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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT    LOS  ANGELES 


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Georgk  Washington,  1st  President  of  the  Patowmack  Company 
(Old  Engraving  of  an  Original  Painting  by  Gilbert  Stuart) 


CO 


INSCKIBED    TO    THE 

r^  Memoey 


OF 

ROSE  Mc.HENEY  BRACKETT. 


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27950; 


IN  THREE  PARTS. 

I. 

The  Ohio  Company  and  Other  Adventures. 
1748  to  1774. 

n. 

The  Patowmack  Company. 

1784  to  1828. 

From  its  Unpublished  Records. 

III. 

Life  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms,  Gentleman. 
With  Selections  from  his  Correspondence. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Gen.  George  Washington,  First  President  of  the  Patow- 
mack  Company.  (Old  Engraving  of  an  Original  Paint- 
ing by  Gilbert  Stuart.)    Frontispiece 

Gov.  Thomas  Johnson,  Second  President  of  the  Patow- 
mack  Company.  (Family  Group  by  Chas.  Peale  in  the 
Marj'land  Historical  Society  Gallery.)    Opposite     18 

Great  Seal  of  the  Patowmack  Company.  (Reproduced 
from  Original  by  the  Maurice  Joyce  Co.)   .  .   Preceding     33 

First  Annual  Report  of  the  Patowmack  Company. 
(Original  in  Posses>sion  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio 
Canal  Co.)    Opposite     74 

Little  Falls  of  the  Potomac.  Entrance  to  the  old  Canal  at 
Extreme  Right.      (Photograph  by  Mr.  B.  G.  Foster.) 

Opposite     86 

Old  Stone  at  the  Entrance  to  the  old  Canal  around  Little 
Falls.      (Photograph  by  Miss  Violet  Bacon-Foster.) 

Opposite     90 

Letter  from  Gov.  Wm.  Paca  of  Maryland.  (Original  in 
Possession  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  Co.) 

Opposite     98 

Great  Falls  of  the  Potomac  in  1802.  (Drawn  by  Beck, 
Lithograph  in  the  Library  of  Congress.)  ....   Opposite  104 

The  First  Lock  at  the  Great  Falls  of  the  Potomac.  (Pho- 
tograph by  Miss  Violet  Bacon-Foster.)    Opposite  112 

The  Second  Lock  at  the  Great  Falls  of  the  Potomac. 
(Photograph  by  Miss  Violet  Bacon-Foster.)     Opposite  120 

View  of  the  Potomac  River  from  the  Fifth  Lock  at  the 
Great  Falls.  (Charcoal  Drawing  by  Miss  Milicent 
Strange.)    Opposite  130 

Gen.  John  Mason,  Last  President  of  the  Patowmack  Com- 
pany. (From  Portrait  in  Possession  of  Mrs.  V.  C. 
Dawson. )    Opposite  140 


viii  Illustrations. 

Autographs  of  Stockholders  in  the  Patowmaek  Company. 

Opposite  170 
Autographs  of  Stockholders  in  the  Pato\\Tnack  Company. 

Opposite  190 
Colo.  Charles  Simms,  Gentleman.     (Drawn  by  Mrs.  J.  O. 

ICstabrook  from  a  Minature.)    Preceding  237 

Harpers  Ferry,  Showing  First  Arsenal  Buildings.     (Rare 
English  Engraving  of  1800.)  Opposite  260 


PAET    I. 

THE   OHIO   COMPANY   AND   OTHER 
ADVENTURES. 

1748  to  1774. 


[Eeprinted  from  the  Eecords  of  the  Columbia  Historieal  Society.] 


THE   OHIO   COMPANY,  1748-1874. 

By    MES.    COEEA    BACON-FOSTEE. 
(Eead  before  the  Society,  December  14,  1909.) 

The  story  of  tlie  first  incorporated  effort  to  secure 
an  easy  communication  between  the  English  settle- 
ments on  the  Atlantic  coast  and  the  great  country  west 
of  the  Alleghany  Mountains  commences  about  1740, 
when  Thomas  Cresap,^  the  sturdy  Yorkshire  man,  built 

^  Biographical  Sketch  of  the  Life  of  the  late  Capt.  Michael  Cresap. 
Cumberland,  Md.  Printed  for  the  author  (John  J.  Jacob)  by  J.  W. 
Buchanan,  1826. 

Eeprint,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  with  notes  and  appendix,  for  Wm.  Dodge 
by  Jno.  F.  Uhlhom,  Steam  Job  Printer,  58  W.  3d  St.,  1866. 

Cin.  edition,  page  29 : 

"The  Cresap  family  is  large,  extensive  and  respectable;  it  will  not 
yield  the  homage  of  superiority  to  any  family  in  Virginia  or  Maryland. 
.  .  .  Col.  Thos.  Cresap  .  .  .  the  head  and  founder  of  the  Cresap  family, 
emigrated  from  Yorkshire,  England  when  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  but 
the  dark  shades  of  obscurity  rest  upon  all  the  intermediate  part  of  his 
life  from  this  period  until  he  married  a  Miss  Johnson  at  the  age  of  about 
thirty  and  settled  at,  or  near  the  place  now  called  Havre  de  Grace  on  the 
Susquehanna  Eiver.  He  was  at  this  time  poor,  and  in  providing  the 
necessary  articles  for  housekeeping  got  involved  in  debt  to  the  enormous 
sum  of  9£  currency,  when  it  is  believed  with  a  view  to  extricate  himself 
from  this  debt  he  took  a  trip  to  Virginia,  got  acquainted  with  and.  rented 
a  farm  from  the  Washington  family  with  the  intention  of  removing  to 
that  colony.  But  during  his  absence  his  wife  was  delivered  of  her  first 
born  son,  Daniel  and  on  his  return  refused  to  go  to  Virginia.  Now 
however  he  might  be  displeased  at  this  he  acquiesced;  and  after  having 
paid  his  9£  debt  he  removed  higher  up  the  Susquehanna  to  or  near  the 

3 


4  The  Ohio  Company. 

place  called  Wright 's  Ferry,  opposite  the  present  town  of  Columbia  and 
obtained  a  Maryland  title  for  500  acres  of  good  land.  But  this  unfortu- 
nately at  that  time  was  disputed  territory;  and  as  others  set  up  a  claim 
to  this  land  under  a  Pennsylvania  title  a  war — called  the  Conojacular 
War — took  place.  Cresap  espoused  the  cause  of  Lord  Baltimore  with  as 
much  zeal  and  ardor  as  the  Pennites  did  that  of  Mr.  Penn,  and  a  battle 
ensued  at  a  place  called  Peach  Bottom.  Cresap  's  party  proved  victorious, 
kept  the  field  and  wounded  some  of  the  Pennites.  But  they  soon  recruited 
their  army  and  beseiged  the  old  fellow  in  his  own  home  which  happened 
I  think  to  be  built  of  stone.  The  attack  was  made  in  the  night,  but  as 
the  beseiger  had  neither  cannon  or  battering  rams  it  was  found  that  the 
fort  was  impregnable.  Finding  that  it  would  in  all  probability  be  a 
work  of  time  the  beseigers  built  a  fire  some  distance  from  the  house  that 
they  might  warm  themselves,  counsel  and  deliberate.  Cresap,  aware  of 
his  perilous  situation,  put  out  his  son  Daniel,  nine  or  ten  years  old  to 
warn  his  neighbors  and  friends  to  his  assistance;  but  the  assailants 
discovered  and  took  him  prisoner.  .  .  .  The  beseigers  finding  all  their 
efforts  unavailing  at  length  ...  set  fire  to  the  roof  of  his  house.  This 
had  the  desired  effect,  the  fort  was  no  longer  tenable.  As  no  terms  of 
capitulation  were  offered  the  Colonel  flew  to  the  door  wounding  the 
sentinel  who  stood  there  and  made  good  his  retreat  to  his  boat,  whicli 
happened  to  be  so  fast  as  not  to  be  loosened  in  time  and  he  was  sur- 
rounded and  taken.  They  tied  his  hands  behind  him  and  were  pushing 
across  the  river  with  their  herculean  prisoner,  watched  and  guarded  by 
a  man  on  each  side,  but  our  old  Yorkshire  hero,  seizing  a  favorable 
opportunity  elbowed  one  into  the  river.  .  .  .  When  the  guard  arrived  at 
Lancaster  with  their  prisoner  they  had  him  handcuffed  with  iron,  which 
was  no  sooner  done  than  raising  both  hands  together  he  gave  the  smith 
such  a  tremendous  blow  upon  his  black  pate  that  it  brought  him  to  the 
ground.  .  .  .  The  prisoner  was  committed  to  jail  in  Philadelphia  but  for 
some  reason  it  seems  they  soon  grew  tired  of  their  guest  and  wanted  him 
to  go  home,  which  he  refused  to  do  until  liberated  by  order  of  the  king. 
' '  During  all  this  time  Mrs.  Cresap  with  her  children  took  shelter  in  an 
Indian  town  near  Little  York.  .  .  .  Soon  after  this  Col.  Cresap  removed 
to  Antietam  on  a  valuable  farm  called  the  'Long  Meadows,'  now  in  pos- 
session of  the  Spring  family.  On  this  farm  he  built  a  house  of  stone 
over  a  spring  designed  as  a  fort  because  he  was  on  the  frontier  and  in 
advance  of  a  white  population.  He  now  commenced  as  an  Indian  trader 
and  borrowed  from  Mr.  Dulany  500£  to  aid  him  in  his  business.  Having 
provided  a  large  quantity  of  furs  and  skins  he  shipped  them  to  England. 
But  fortune  still  frowned.  The  ship  was  taken  by  the  French  and  once 
more  he  was  compelled  to  begin  the  world  anew.  He  gave  Mr.  Dulany 
his  land,  1400  acres,  for  the  debt  and  removed  to  the  place  now  called 
'  Old  Town, '  but  by  himself,  '  Skipton '  after  the  place  of  his  nativity. 
This  place  is  a  few  miles  above  the  junction  of  the  north  and  south 


The  Ohio  Company.  5 

branches  of  the  Potomac,  on  the  north  fork  and  it  became  his  permanent 
residence,  here  he  acquired  an  immense  landed  estate  on  both  sides  of 
the  river,  in  Virginia  and  Maryland.  It  was  perhaps  about  this  time 
that  he  renewed  his  acquaintance  with  the  Washington  family  and  he 
entered  conjointly  into  an  association  with  two  or  three  gentlemen  of 
this  name,  of  which  I  think  the  General  was  one,  George  Mason  and 
many  other  gentlemen  in  England  and  America  and  formed  what  was 
called  the  '  Ohio  Company. '  This  company  made  the  first  English  settle- 
ment at  Pittsburg  before  the  Braddock  war  and  it  was  through  their 
means  and  efforts  that  the  first  path  was  traced  through  that  vast  chain  of 
mountains.  Col.  Cresap  as  one  of  the  company  and  active  agent  thereof 
.  .  .  employed  an  Indian,  Nemacolin,  to  lay  out  and  mark  a  road  from 
Cumberland  to  Pittsburg.  .  .  . 

"There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  exertions  of  this  company  had  a 
strong  tendancy  to  accelerate  the  exploration  and  settlement  of  the 
western  country. 

' '  Col.  Cresap  's  literary  attainments  were  small.  His  mind  was  how- 
ever vigorous,  comprehensive  and  strong,  by  industry  and  application  he 
obtained  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  mathematics  to  be  entrusted  with  the 
surveyorship  of  Prince  George  County  .  .  .  and  such  also  was  his  decision 
and  energy  of  mind  that  he  frequently  represented  his  county  in  the 
legislature.  Benevolent  and  hospitable,  Indians  called  him  'Big  Spoon.' 
He  was  not  large,  but  of  great  muscular  strength.  He  lived  to  reach 
10.5  years. 

"At  the  age  of  seventy  he  went  to  London.  While  there  he  was  com- 
missioned by  Lord  Baltimore  to  run  the  western  line  of  Maryland  with 
a  view  to  ascertain  which  of  the  two  branches  of  the  Potomac  was  the 
largest  and  which  was  in  reality  the  fountain  head  or  first  source  of  that 
river. 

"The  original  autograph  map  was  made  by  Col.  Cresap  in  the  neat 
style  of  a  good  county  surveyor  and  sent  by  him  to  Gov.  Sharpe.  It 
came  to  Mr.  Gilmor  's  possession  with  many  other  of  the  Eidout  papers 
and  is  attested  by  Horatio  Ridout  whose  father  was  Sharpe 's  secretary. 
This  was  the  first  map  ever  made  to  show  the  course  and  fountains  of 
the  north  and  south  branches  of  the  Potomac  River  in  regard  to  which 
there  has  been  so  much  controversy  between  Maryland  and  Virginia. ' ' — 
Note  p.  39,  Cin.  ed. 

(Map,  made  prior  to  1754  given  in  Md.  Archives,  Vol.  6,  p.  72.) 

"When  eighty  he  married  a  second  time.  When  one-hundred  he  made 
a  land  and  sea  journey  to  Nova  Scotia.  His  son  Michael  was  a  celebrated 
character  on  the  frontier  for  many  years,  was  ignorantly  accused  of  the 
murder  of  Chief  Logan's  family,  died  in  the  Revolutionary  service." — 
Oltio  ArchcBological  and  Historical  Quarterly,  Vol.  10,  p.  146,  with  sketch 
of  house. 


6  The  Ohio  Company. 

bini  a  fortified  home  on  a  beautiful  bluff  overlooking 
the  upper  Potomac  and  near  a  deserted  old  village  of 
the  Shawnees.2 

To-day  no  one  knows  what  impulse  drove  this  man 
beyond  the  last  outpost  of  civilization  for  his  third 
venture  in  life.  Did  the  wife  who  had  refused  to  go 
to  Virginia,  cheerfully  consent  to  go  with  her  young 
family  into  the  wilderness?  The  home  made  secure 
against  attack  and  the  crop  of  wheat  and  Indian  corn 
safely  stored,  with  an  Indian  for  guide  and  companion, 
Cresap  strode  forth  bound  for  the  west  to  trade  and 
prospect.  His  repeated  expeditions — we  infer  they 
were  successful — led  him  farther  and  farther  into  and 
beyond  the  mountain  ranges  to  the  great  western  coun- 
try, even  beyond  the  "Beautiful  Eiver"  where  no 
white  man  had  then  dared  fix  his  abode. 

Thomas  Cresap  seems  to  have  settled  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Susque- 
hanna some  time  about  1730  under  a  grant  from  Lord  Baltimore;  being 
a  man  of  intelligence  and  strength  of  character  he  was  intrusted  with  the 
supervision  of  that  neighborhood,  surveying  land  for  settlers,  collecting 
taxes  and  quit  rents.  The  Penns  were  also  claiming  that  portiou  of  the 
country  and  settlers  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  gave  the  Marylanders 
much  trouble.  These  culminated  in  open  warfare  when  in  1736  a  settle- 
ment of  Palatines  fancied  they  were  properly  in  Pennsylvania  and  refused 
to  pay  Maryland  taxes.  Cresap  was  several  times  assaulted  in  his  own 
house  and  finally  was  burnt  out  and  arrested  and  kept  in  irons  for  nearly 
two  years.  This  naturally  embittered  him  very  much,  his  resentment 
against  Pennsylvania  never  smouldered  and  when  opportunity  offered  he 
never  hesitated  to  strike.  The  friendship  of  all  Indians  for  him  at  that 
period  of  his  career  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  Shawnees  gave  his  wife 
and  children  shelter  and  protection  during  his  imprisonment. 

^Journal  of  Capt.  Chas.  Lewis,  a  soldier  in  Braddock's  army,  Dec.  2, 
1755.  While  foraging — "We  arrived  about  two  o'clock  at  a  plantation 
of  one  Cresap 's,  most  delightfully  situated  on  land  that  gave  me  great 
pleasure,  'twas  a  piece  of  low  ground  entirely  surrounded  by  the  moun- 
tains, the  prospect  remantick,  high  rocks  on  the  sides  of  the  mountains 
some  hundred  feet  perpendicular  to  the  river  Potomaek.  Here  we  lodged 
this  night  in  a  comfortable  house. ' ' — Wisconsin  Hist.  Soc,  Draper  MSS. 
*18  U.  W.,  Va.  Hist.  Mag.,  Vol.  4,  p.  109. 


The  Ohio  Company.  7 

From  Indians  and  the  occasional  hunters  he  met,  he 
learned  that  the  French  were  preparing  to  take  posses- 
sion of  all  that  fertile  land.^  Imbued  with  the  true 
Briton's  hatred  of  the  papist  Frenchman  he  pondered 
seriously  upon  the  situation  as  he  returned  to  the  east 
laden  with  his  valuable  pelts.  He  then  probably  con- 
cluded that  to  locate  English  colonies  with  strong  mili- 
tary protection  would  check  invasion  and  repel  attacks 
of  hostile  Indians;  such  settlements  would  be  in  Vir- 
ginia territory  and  if  he  had  his  will  not  open  to  Penn- 
sylvanians.^  He  had  sometimes  hunted  with  George 
Croghan,^  who  was  in  the  employ  of  Philadelphia  mer- 
chants and  also  in  the  confidence  of  Sir  William  John- 
son, of  the  Mohawk  Valley.*'  Croghan,  it  is  true,  was 
always  most  amiable  with  Virginians,  but  he  was  Irish 
and  under  the  genial  influence  of  Cresap's  fine  rum  he 
doubtless  told  much  of  his  patrons'  plans  that  he  had 
been  wise  to  reserve.^ 

The  hatred  of  Cresap  for  the  Pennsylvanians  we  may 
regard  as  the  first  political  incident  in  our  story;  he 
regarded  them  as  the  enemies  of  himself  and  Mary- 
land. As  Maryland  had  no  western  territory  he  would 
naturally  go  to  Virginia  with  his  projects.  So  loading 
a  stout  boat  with  his  accumulation  of  fine  furs  and 
wrapping  his  gentleman's  costume  in  waterproof  cover 
he  floated  with  the  current  of  the  Potomac  to  the  civili- 
zation in  tide-water  settlements,  skilfully  avoiding 
rocks  and  shoals  by  day,  by  night  tied  up  out  of  reach 
of  possible  marauders.    At  Great  Falls  was  the  only 

^R.  G.  Thwaites,  "France  in  America."  W.  M.  Sloane,  "French 
War  and  Revolution,"  p.  267.  Facsimile  of  the  Celeron  plate,  "The 
Olden  Time,"  Craig,  Vol.  1,  p.  288. 

*  Thwaites,  "France  in  America,"  p.  144. 

®W.  M.  Darlington,  "Christopher  Gist's  Journals,"  p.  176. 

«  F.  W.  Halsey,  ' '  The  Old  New  York  Frontier, ' '  p.  95. 

''Writings  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  Smyth,  Vol.  4,  p.  461,  Vol.  5,  p.  46. 


8  The  Ohio  Company. 

portage,  but  there  he  found  rest  and  refreshment  at 
the  warehouse  of  Ludwell  Lee  in  the  town  of  '  *  Philae. ' ' 
Thence  to  the  York  the  sailing  would  be  mere  pas- 
time— with  fair  winds. 

Many  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  colony  were  at 
the  time  in  the  Assembly  in  session  at  Williamsburg. 
The  intelligent  Cresap  had  no  difficulty  in  interesting 
them  in  his  view  of  the  political  and  economic  situation 
over  the  mountains.  Indeed  some  such  scheme  must 
already  have  suggested  itself  as  a  result  of  the  Treaty 
of  Lancaster  in  1744,^  when  Thos.  Lee  for  Virginia 
paid  to  the  Indians  £200  in  gold  and  £300  in  goods  for 
a  deed  recognizing  the  king's  right  to  all  the  *' lands 
that  are  or  shall  be  by  His  Majesty's  appointment  in 
the  colony  of  Virginia."  Lord  Baltimore  at  the  same 
time  paid  £300  in  goods  for  a  release  of  all  claim  to 
western  Maryland  ''as  far  as  two  miles  .  .  .  above 
where  Thos.  Cresap  has  a  hunting  or  trading  cabin." 
A  strong  company  was  at  once  formed  (1748)  for  trad- 
ing with  the  Indians  and  establishing  settlements  in 
the  western  country.  This  was  the  organization  of  the 
"Ohio  Company,"  the  most  powerful  of  all  pre-Eevo- 
lutionary  trade  corporations  and  the  first  incorporated 
effort  to  reach  the  great  west.  Its  lineal  successors 
have  been:  the  Potomac  Company,  1784,  the  Chesa- 
peake and  Ohio  Canal  Company,  1826,  the  National 
Eoad,  the  first  national  inland  improvement,  1806.  We 
might  include  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  com- 
pleted to  St.  Louis  in  1857.'-^ 

« Penna.  Col.  Records,  Vol.  4,  pp.  698-737. 

®  Bancroft,  Vol.  3,  p.  29,  p.  50. — ' '  While  Penna.  neglected  its  western 
frontier  the  Ohio  Co.  of  Va.  profiting  by  the  intelligence  of  Indian 
hunters  who  had  followed  every  stream  to  its  head  spring  and  crossed 
every  gap  in  the  mountain  ranges  discovered  the  path  by  Will's  Creek 
to  the  Ohio.  Their  stores  in  1750  were  carried  no  farther  than  that 
creek."    W.  H.  Lowdermilk,  Cumberland,  Md.,  p.  26.    Darlington,  Gist's 


The  Ohio  Company.  9 

The  company  was  organized  in  1748  and  secured 
from  the  King  in  May,  1749,  a  charter  and  grant  to  a 
half  million  acres  of  land  on  these  terms — 200,000  acres 
to  be  at  once  located  on  the  north  of  the  Ohio  Eiver 
with  the  provision  that  if  the  company  did  not  erect  a 
fort  on  the  land  and  maintain  a  sufficient  garrison 
therein  and  locate  at  their  own  expense  a  hundred 
families  therein  in  seven  years  the  grants  would  be 
void,  but  if  these  terms  were  accomplished  they  were 
to  receive  the  further  grant  of  300,000  acres  of  land. 
On  a  second  petition  the  company  secured  the  entire 
grant  with  very  little  restriction  as  to  location. 

Thos.  Lee,  at  the  time  president  of  His  Majesty's 
Council  in  Virginia,  held  two  of  the  twenty  shares  and 
was  president  of  the  company,  the  John  Hanbury  Co., 
of  London,  held  two  shares  and  were  the  London 
agents,  Geo.  Mason  became  and  always  remained  the 
treasurer,  John  Mercer,  the  most  distinguished  lawyer 
in  the  colonies,  was  chosen  secretary  and  legal  adviser, 
Thomas  Cresap  became  the  manager  in  the  field,  Law- 
rence and  Augustine  Washington  held  shares,  three 
shares  were  held  in  Maryland.  Upon  his  arrival  Gov- 
ernor Dinwiddle  promptly  secured  shares  and  was  a 
valuable  member.^*^^'  Upon  a  general  meeting  at  Staf- 
ford Court  House  in  1749  they  agreed  with  H.  Parker 
for  the  carriage  of  all  their  goods  from  the  Falls  of 
the  Potomac  to  their  general  factory  on  the  Ohio  and 
authorized  Colonel  Cresap  to  have  a  road  opened  to 
these  places.^ ^ 

Journals,  p.  224,  etc.  ' '  The  papers  of  the  Ohio  Company  are  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  Eobt.  Clarke  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. ' ' — ^Fernow. 

'"  Dinwiddie  Papers,  Vol.  1,  p.  17,  in  reply  to  a  letter  from  Cresap, 
"I  have  the  success  and  prosperity  of  the  Ohio  Co.  much  at  heart." 

"Toner,  "Washington's  Journal,"  1747-8,  p.  65,  "Mem,  to  survey 
the  lands  at  the  mouth  of  Little  Cacapehon  and  the  mouth  of  15  mile  Ck. 
for  the  gentlemen  of  the  Ohio  Co."     See  note,  p.  64. 


lO  The  Ohio  Company. 

These  terms  required  energetic  action.  By  the  ad- 
vice of  Cresap,  Christopher  Gist/^  a  man  of  good  fam- 
ily connections,  educated,  experienced  in  dealing  with 
Indians,  familiar  with  the  Ohio  country,  living  by  pref- 
erence on  the  frontier,  was  engaged  to  select  the  enor- 
mous tract  of  land  by  actual  observation,  to  go  as  far 
down  the  river  as  the  "Falls"  (Louisville)  and  to  se- 
cure the  friendship  of  the  chiefs  of  the  tribes  he  en- 
countered. In  November,  1749,  he  set  out  on  this 
hazardous  mission, leaving  Will's  Creek  (Cumberland) 
well  equipped  for  the  journey.  He  critically  examined 
the  country  to  the  north  of  the  great  river  as  far  as  the 
Miamis,  cultivated  the  acquaintance  of  the  numerous 
chiefs  by  making  them  many  presents  of  trinkets  from 
the  "Great  White  Father,"  took  copious  notes  by  the 
way  and  made  plots  of  many  good  locations  and  in 
three  months  returned  weary  and  foot-sore  to  the  com- 
pany's station  at  Will's  Creek.  His  report  was  emi- 
nently satisfactory.  The  company  at  once  built  a 
storehouse  at  Will's  Creek  and  ordered  £4,000  w.orth 
of  trading  goods  from  Hanbury  &  Co.,  in  London. 
Cresap  with  the  assistance  of  the  Indian  Nemacolin 
surveyed  and  blazed  a  path  from  Will's  Creek  to  the 
point  on  the  Monongahela  afterwards  known  as  Fort 
Red  Stone,  the  home  of  Christopher  Gist.^=^  This  was 
the  original  survey  of  the  road  over  the  mountains  fol- 
lowed by  Washington  in  1754,  Braddock  in  1755  and 
the  engineers  of  the  "National  Pike"  in  1807  and  the 
railroad  engineers  in  our  own  day. 

But  it  was  necessary  to  have  the  king's  grant  of  land 
recognized  by  the  savages  in  possession,  hence  in  1752 

"Darlington,  "Gist's  Journals,"  p.  88. 

" Lowdermilk,  "Cumberland,"  p.  29.  He  built  there  the  first  house 
west  of  the  mountains  to  have  a  nailed-on  roof.  Eleven  families  settled 
about  him. 


TJie  Ohio  Company.  Ii 

Gist,  as  agent  of  the  company,  with  three  commission- 
ers from  Virginia,  met  the  Half  King  and  other  chiefs 
at  Logstown  on  the  Ohio  and  made  a  treaty  by  which 
was  secured  to  white  settlers  unmolested  possession  of 
lands  southeast  of  the  Ohio.^"*  George  Croghan  was  a 
subscribing  witness.  Gist  was  then  instructed  to  lay 
off  a  town  at  Chartier's  Creek,  just  below  the  junction 
of  the  Alleghany  and  Monongahela  rivers;  £400  was 
allowed  for  building  the  protecting  fortification;  he 
with  several  families  settled  there.  A  third  depot  of 
supplies  had  been  built  at  Red  Stone  and  the  temporary 
store  at  Will's  Creek  replaced  by  one  more  commodious 
and  capable  of  defence,  a  town  called  Charlottesburg 
was  also  there  laid  out  and  trade  in  town  lots  was  quite 
active  for  a  time.^^ 

The  business  prospered;  no  shares  of  the  stock  could 
be  bought.  The  favored  holders  were  jubilant.  In 
transportation  of  stores  the  Potomac  and  Mononga- 
hela rivers  were  utilized. 

But  clouds  lowered  on  the  horizon.  The  Pennsyl- 
vania and  New  York  traders  were  not  pleased  with  the 
Virginia  monopoly,  claiming  the  same  privileges  under 
the  terms  of  the  Lancaster  treaty  of  1744.  And  the 
French  were  not  caught  napping;  they  soon  followed 
up  the  planting  of  the  Celeron  lead  plates  with  armed 
invasion. 

In  1752  the  Virginia  Assembly  passed  an  act  for  en- 
couraging western  settlement  by  relieving  the  settlers 
from  all  taxation.     In  1754  during  the  exodus  to  the 

"Darlington,  "Mercer's  Instructions  to  Gist  in  Eeferenee  to  Terms 
of  Treaty,"  pp.  231-6. 

" Lowdermilk,  "Cumberland,"  pp.  30-1,  Hulbert,  "Historic  High- 
ways," A''ol.  4,  opposite  p.  26.  Plan  of  Fort  Cumberland  and  vicinity 
dated  Feb.,  1755,  shows  the  two  store  houses  of  the  Ohio  Co.,  one  a  long 
two-story  building,  the  other  much  smaller,  like  a  block  house,  both  across 
the  Potomac  Eiver  from  the  fort  and  consequently  in  Virginia  territory. 


12  The  Ohio  Cum  pan  ij. 

protection  of  the  east  another  act  was  passed,  with 
much  opposition,  for  taking  £10,000  from  the  revenues 
for  military  service  on  the  frontier.  In  1766  an  act 
was  passed  with  an  appropriation  of  £200  for  the  im- 
provement of  Braddock's  road.  All  these  acts  were 
in  the  interest  of  the  Ohio  Company  and  secured  by  the 
influence  of  the  stockholders.^^ 

From  the  first  days  of  the  settlement  the  Virginians 
of  the  tide  water  country  had  used  their  many  water 
ways  as  highways  between  their  widely  separated  plan- 
tations, and  much  of  the  early  legislation  was  directed 
to  the  improvement  of  navigation  on  these  streams  ;^^ 
hence  it  was  but  natural  that  they  should  seek  a  water 
transportation  to  the  country  beyond  the  mountains  as 
soon  as  trade  with  the  Indians  and  frontiersmen  be- 
came of  value.  The  Ohio  Company  had  used  the  Po- 
tomac from  1749.^^ 

The  importance  of  the  beaver  as  a  factor  in  the  com- 
mercial and  political  history  of  the  English  and  French 
colonization  has  been  recognized  by  all  historians.  The 
barter  for  these  and  other  valuable  pelts  led  the  ad\>en- 
turous  traders  farther  and  farther  beyond  the  defiles 
of  the  mountain  boundaries  of  the  English  colonies; 
returning  they  gave  glowing  descriptions  of  the  beauty 
and  fertility  of  the  country — of  the  noble  streams  flow- 
ing to  the  southwest  and  to  the  great  lakes.  Early  in 
the   eighteenth  century  New  York  and  Philadelphia 

"Arthur  Dobbs,  John  Hanbury,  Samuel  Smith,  Jas.  Wardrop,  Capel 
Ilanbury,  Kobt.  Dinwiddie,  Esqr.,  Exec,  of  Thos.  Lee,  late  President  and 
Governor  of  Va. — 2  shares.  John  Tayloe,  Esq.,  Prestly  Thornton,  Esq., 
Exrs.  of  Law.  Washington,  Augustine  Washington,  Eiehard  Lee,  Nath. 
Chapman,  Jacob  Giles,  Thos.  Cresap,  John  Mercer,  .James  Scott,  Robert 
Carter,  George  Mason. 

^'Hening's  Statutes  of  Va.,  Vols.  5-6. 

^^Eeport  of  Gen.  J.  F.  Mercer  from  Com.  on  roads,  *90,  19th  Congress, 
1st  session,  House  Document. 


The  Ohio  Company.  -  13 

merchants  were  sending  out  wily  traders  well  equipped 
with  firearms  as  well  as  with  firewater  and  trinkets 
adapted  to  captivate  the  savage  taste,  such  as  beads, 
bits  of  looking  glass  and  bright  ribbons.  The  mer- 
chants reaped  a  rich  harvest  from  the  returns.  For 
convenience  these  traders  often  located  their  families 
far  out  on  the  frontier.^ ^  Of  these  hardy  adventurers 
Christopher  Gist,  George  Croghan,  Thos.  Cresap  and 
his  son  Michael  became  famous  in  the  trying  years 
after  the  French  invasion.  A  few  sturdy  Palatines 
pushed  on  through  the  valleys  of  Pennsylvania  to  west- 
ern Maryland  and  the  beautiful  valley  of  Virginia  along 
the  Shenandoah;  they  were  followed  in  a  few  years  by 
the  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians,  who  went  into  and  be- 
yond the  mountains.-*^ 

Meantime,  about  1747,  two  young  gentlemen,  George 
Washington  and  George  William  Fairfax,  were  amus- 
ing themselves  in  surveying  fields  and  outlying  lots 
about  Mt.  Vernon  and  Belvoir  on  the  lower  Potomac; 
an  occasional  companion  was  a  slim  lad  of  about  the 
same  age  with  a  pleasant,  refined  countenance  lighted 
by  a  pair  of  wonderful  dark  eyes;  he  cared  little  for 
horses  and  atliletic  sports,  but  was  reading  law  in 
Mr.  Bordley's  office  at  Annapolis;  this  stripling  was 
Thomas  Johnson,  Maryland's  greatest  son.-^  Thus 
early  commenced  the  lifelong  friendship  between  these 
men.  The  cynical  Lord  Fairfax,  who  was  at  the  time 
visiting  his  cousin,  became  interested  in  the  surveying 
and  in  the  young  man  who  arrived  at  such  accurate 
results,  and  who  he  was  told  had  his  own  fortune  to 
seek.  Pie  chose  the  shy,  awkward  and  overgrown  lad 
for  his  companion  on  many  excursions,  to  the  amuse- 

'"  All  histories  of  the  period. 

^  Esten  Cooke,  ' '  Virginia, ' '  Chap.  23. 

"  Tradition  in  the  Johnson  family. 


14  The  Ohio  Company. 

ment  of  a  bright  lady  of  the  family,  who  remarked  that 
the  two  must  be  congenial  company,  ''as  the  Lord  never 
spoke  at  all  and  George  only  when  addressed.  "2- 

"When  Lord  Fairfax  sent  out  Mr.  Geen,  an  expe- 
rienced surveyor,  to  explore  and  locate  his  northern 
lines,  he  had  evidently  heard  of  the  location  of  the 
western  boundary  of  Maryland  by  Captain  Thomas 
Cresap,-^  he  employed  the  two  young  gentlemen  to  ac- 
company him  as  assistants,  paying  each  the  goodly 
sum  of  a  daily  doubloon.  Of  the  two  months  thus  em- 
ployed we  have  an  interesting  account  in  Washington's 
diary  in  which  he  jotted  down  his  close  observation  of 
soil,  timber  and  streams;  he  was  for  several  days  the 
guest  of  Captain  Cresap  and  had  his  first  experience 
of  a  Potomac  freshet. ^^  The  surveyor's  report  of  his 
assistants 'work  evidently  pleased  the  Lord  for  he  soon 
appointed  Washington  surveyor-in-chief  with  head- 
quarters at  his  hunting  lodge,  Greenway  Court,  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley. 

In  the  three  years  thus  occupied  Washington  had 
constant  opportunity  to  become  very  familiar  w»ith  the 
upper  Potomac  in  its  various  stages  of  drouth  and 
high  water.  He  must  have  often  visited  the  depot  of 
the  Ohio  Company  at  Will's  Creek  and  the  two-storied, 
stockaded  home  of  Thomas  Cresap.  Upon  the  receipt 
of  his  military  appointment  in  1751-"  he  returned  to 

-  See  Dr.  Weir  Mitchell 's  ' '  Autobiography  of  George  Washington  in 
His  Youth,"  p.  72:  "George  only  when  spoken  to  and  the  Lord  once  a 
week. ' ' 

^  Cresap  probably  made  the  survey  of  the  headwaters  of  the  Potomac 
about  1745.  His  original  map  is  among  the  Gilmor  Papers  in  the  Mary- 
land Hist.  Soe.  collection.  Legend — "First  map  ever  made  to  show  the 
course  and  fountains  of  the  north  and  south  branches  of  the  Potomac 
Kiver. "  Signed  by  Mr.  Horatio  Eidout,  the  son  of  Gov.  Sharpe's 
secretary. 

2^  Toner's  "Journal  of  Washington,"  1747-8,  p.  7. 

-^  Dinwiddle  Papers,  Vol.  1,  pp.  49-59. 


The  Ohio  Company.  1$ 

the  lower  country  and  found  the  engrossing  topic  of 
the  day  to  be  "The  Ohio  Company  and  its  golden 
future. ' ' 

In  1753  the  tidings  of  the  French  invasion  was 
brought  in  by  returning  hunters.  Governor  Dinwid- 
die,  a  holder  of  Ohio  Company  stock,  promptly  sent 
the  best  envoy  at  hand,  also  interested,  to  investigate 
and  to  warn.'*^  The  heroic  winter  journey  made  by 
Washington  and  Gist  to  the  French  camp  on  the  Alle- 
ghany is  too  well  known  to  here  recite.^"  The  French 
did  not  heed  the  warning  and  thereby  lost  a  continent. 
A  detachment  was  sent  to  fortify  the  Forks  of  the  Ohio 
and  to  defend  the  company's  stores  at  Chartier's 
Creek,  but  were  too  late.^^  When  Washington  was 
sent  to  assist  Captain  Trent  he  opened  the  path  blazed 
by  Cresap  and  Nemacolin  into  a  fair  wagon  road;  it 
had  hitherto  been  merely  a  trail  for  moccasined  feet 
and  pack  horses.  General  Braddock  made  of  it  a  mili- 
tary road  in  1755.  Doubtless  the  colonists'  jealousy 
of  the  success  of  the  Ohio  Company  was  one  cause  of 
their  lukewarm  support  of  his  campaign.  During  the 
Washington  and  Braddock  campaigns  heavily  laden 
boats  were  constantly  passing  up  and  down  the  Poto- 
mac. The  militant  Governor  Sharpe  of  Maryland,  in 
company  with  Braddock 's  commissary-general,  made 
a  careful  inspection  of  the  river  from  Cumberland  to 
Great  Falls  and  reported  that  while  artillery  could  not 
be  carried  by  that  route  all  other  supplies  might. -^ 

During  the  terrible  years  of  conflict  on  the  frontier 

2^  The  same,  Vol.  1,  pp.  49-59. 

""Washington's  Journal,"  Ford,  Vol.  1,  p.  11.  "Gist's  Journals," 
Darlington,  p.  80. 

^  Letter  from  Washington  to  Col.  Bouquet,  Ford,  Vol.  2,  p.  62. 

^  Jan.  28,  1755.  ' '  These  gentlemen  stepped  into  a  small  boat  at  Fort 
Cumberland  and  descended  the  Potomac  to  Alexandria. ' '  Lowdermilk, 
p.  103.    Also  Sharpe 's  letter  in  Md.  Archives,  Vol.  6,  p.  186. 


1 6  The  Ohio  Company. 

little  thought  was  given  to  trade,  transportation  or  set- 
tlement. The  Ohio  Company's  seven  years  of  grace 
lapsed.  The  last  meetings  of  the  company  of  which 
we  have  any  record  were  called  through  the  Virginia 
and  Maryland  Gazettes  in  1778  and  1779  by  George 
Mason,  treasurer,  for  '' business  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance. '  '"'^ 

The  great  political  influence  of  the  Ohio  Company 
had  been  shown  by  the  selection  of  the  Potomac  route 
for  General  Braddock's  advance  on  Fort  Du  Quesne — 
this  influence  had  been  exerted  in  London  and  was  most 
displeasing  to  the  Philadelphians,  who  contended  they 
had  better  roads  and  greater  facilities  for  transporting 
and  i^rovisioning  troops  in  Pennsylvania.^^ 

General  Forbes  in  1758,  after  some  delay,  selected  a 
Pennsylvania  route  for  his  advance  and  made  a  road 
directly  over  the  mountains,  much  to  the  disgust  of  the 
Virginians  and  Marylanders.  That  was  the  era  of 
provincial  distrust  and  jealousy.  Here  is  one  of  the 
Virginia  Colonel  Washington's  letters  on  the  selection 
of  the  route  addressed  to  Colonel  Bouquet  in  cojnmand 
of  the  advance  :^2 

' '  Camp  near  Fort  Cumberland,  2d.  August.  1758. 
''Sir; — The  matters  of  which  we  spoke  relative  to  the  roads, 
have  since  our  parting,  been  the  subject  of  my  closest  reflec- 
tion, and  so  far  am  I  from  altering  my  opinion,  that  the  more 
time  and  attention  I  bestow,  the  more  I  am  confirmed  in  it, 
and  the  reasons  for  taking  Braddock's  road  appear  in  a 
stronger  point  of  view.  To  enumerate  the  whole  of  these 
reasons  w^ould  be  tedious,  and  to  you  who  have  become  so 
much  master  of  the  subject,  unnecessary.  I  shall  therefore, 
briefly  mention  a  few  only  which  I  think  so  obvious  in  them- 
selves, that  they  must  effectually  remove  objections. 

«>Fa.  Gazette,  May  1,  1778.    Maryland  Gazette,  Nov.  10,  1779. 
'' Lowdermilk,  p.  238,  and  many  other  authorities. 
«=  Quoted  in  Lowdermilk,  p.  238.     Ford,  Vol.  2,  p.  62. 


The  Frederick  Town  Adventurers.  i*J 

' '  Several  years  ago  the  Virginians  and  Pennsylvanians  com- 
menced a  trade  with  the  Indians  settled  on  the  Ohio,  and  to 
obviate  the  many  inconveniences  of  a  bad  road,  they,  after 
reiterated  and  ineffectual  efforts  to  discover  where  a  good  one 
might  be  made  employed  for  the  purpose  several  of  the  most 
intelligent  Indians  who  in  course  of  many  years  hunting  had 
acquired  a  perfect  knowledge  of  these  mountains.  The 
Indians  having  taken  the  greatest  pains  to  gain  the  rewards 
offered  for  this  discovery,  declared  that  the  path  leading  from 
Will's  Creek  was  infinitely  preferable  to  any  that  could  be 
made  at  any  other  place.  Time  and  experience  so  clearly 
demonstrated  this  truth  that  the  Pennsylvania  traders  com- 
monly carried  out  their  goods  by  Will's  Creek.  Therefore  the 
Ohio  Company  in  1753  at  considerable  expense  opened  the 
road.  In  1754  the  troops  whom  I  had  the  honor  to  command 
greatly  repaired  it,  as  far  as  Gist's  plantation;  and  in  1755 
it  was  widened  and  completed  by  Gen.  Braddock  to  within 
six  miles  of  Fort  Du  Quesne.  A  road  that  has  so  long  been 
opened,  and  so  well  and  so  often  repaired  must  be  much  firmer 
and  better  than  a  new  one,  allowing  the  ground  to  be  equally 
good. ' ' 

The  distance  by  the  way  of  Braddock 's  road  froni 
Will's  Creek  to  Fort  Du  Quesne  was  115  miles,  com- 
paratively level,  from  Eaystown  in  Pennsylvania 
through  the  trackless  forest  and  over  mountain  ranges 
was  100  miles,  but  the  new  road  was  cut  and  the  ad- 
vance made  on  that  line. 

So  there  were  then  two  routes  to  the  Ohio  which 
after  the  pacification  of  the  Indians  in  1768  were  well 
worn  by  westward  bound  parties  of  homeseekers. 

The  Feedeeick  Town  Adventueees. 

Projects  for  clearing  the  channels  in  the  Potomac 

Eiven  began  to  be  agitated  in  the  sixties.     Probably 

the  Jolmson  brothers,  at  Frederick,  were  the  first  to 

suggest  organizing  a  company  to  improve  t>e  naviga- 

3 


1 8  The  Frederick  Town  Adventurers. 

tion.  They  had  early  settled  in  that  rich  valley,  had 
prospered,  were  progressive  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zens. Thomas  Johnson  was  doubtless  interested  with 
them  in  many  enterprises  and  joined  them  in  the 
county  in  1779. 

Studying  the  noble  river  that  sweeps  in  graceful 
curves  past  the  valley  it  was  not  strange  that  they 
should  become  impatient  of  the  heavy  toll  to  be  paid 
on  the  wagon  transportation  to  Baltimore  of  the  prod- 
ucts of  their  farms  and  furnaces,  and  seek  another 
outlet,  so  Thomas  Johnson  appears  to  have  attempted 
to  organize  a  company  to  raise  the  means  for  improv- 
ing the  navigation  of  the  Potomac.  Our  only  knowl- 
edge of  it  is  from  the  following  letter  by  Washington, 
which  on  account  of  its  importance  we  will  quote  in 
full:33 

''July  20,  1770. 

"Sir; — I  was  honored  with  your  favor  of  the  18th  of  June 
about  the  last  of  that  month,  and  read  it  with  all  the  attention 
I  was  capable  of ;  from  that  time  till  now  I  have  not  been  able 
to  enquire  into  the  sentiments  of  any  of  the  gentlemeh  of  this 
side  in  respect  to  the  scheme  of  opening  the  inland  navigation 
of  Potowmack  by  private  subscription,  in  the  manner  you 
have  proposed — and  therefore  any  opinion  which  I  may  now 
offer  on  this  head  will  be  considered  I  hope  as  the  result  of 
my  own  private  thinking,  not  of  the  public. 

"That  no  person  concerned  in  this  event  wishes  to  see  an 
undertaking  of  the  sort  go  forward  with  more  sincerity  and 
ardor  than  I  do,  I  can  truly  assure  you ;  and  I  will  at  all  times 
give  any  assistance  in  my  power  to  promote  the  design,  but 
I  leave  you  to  judge  from  the  trial  which  before  this  you  have 
undoubtedly  made,  how  few  there  are,  (not  immediately  bene- 

2^  This  letter  was  among  the  Potomac  Co.  papers ;  it  was  loaned  to 
Mr.  Andrew  Stewart  for  his  fine  report  in  1826,  "Chesapeake  and  Ohio 
Canal,"  House  Doc,  228,  1st  Session,  19th  Congress.  Its  present  loca- 
tion is  not  known;  it  is  not  given  by  Ford  or  Sparks. 


;4  ■  ■ 


Ph        — 


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fe 


The  Frederick  Town  Adventurers.  19 

fited  by  it)  that  will  contribute  any  thing  worth  while  to  the 
work ;  and  how  many  small  sums  are  required  to  raise  a  large 
one.  Upon  your  plan  of  raising  money  it  appears  to  me  there 
will  be  found  but  two  kinds  of  people  who  will  subscribe  much 
towards  it.  Those  who  are  actuated  by  motives  of  public 
spirit,  and  those  again  who  from  their  proximity  to  the  navi- 
gation will  reap  the  salutatory  effects  of,  clearing  the  river. 
The  number  of  the  latter  you  must  be  a  competent  judge  of; 
those  of  the  former,  is  more  difficult  to  ascertain ;  for  which 
reason,  I  own  to  you,  that  I  am  not  without  my  doubts  of 
your  scheme  falling  through,  however  sanguine  your  first 
hopes  may  be  from  the  rapidity  of  subscribers,  for  it  is  to  be 
supposed  that  your  subscription  papers  will  probably  be 
opened  among  those  whose  interests  must  naturally  incline 
them  to  wish  well  to  the  undertaking,  and  consequently  will 
aid  it ;  but  when  you  come  to  shift  the  scene  a  little,  and 
apply  to  them  Avho  are  unconnected  with  the  river,  and  the 
advantage  of  its  navigation  how  slowly  will  you  advance. 

"This,  sir,  is  my  sentiment  generally,  upon  your  plan  of 
obtaining  subscriptions  for  extending  the  navigation  of  the 
Potowmack,  whereas  I  conceive,  that  if  the  subscriptions  were 
vested  by  the  two  legislatures,  with  a  kind  of  property  in  the 
navigation  under  certain  restrictions  and  limitations  and  to 
be  re-imbursed  their  tirst  advances  with  a  high  interest 
thereon,  by  a  certain  easy  toll  on  all  craft  proportionate  to 
their  respective  burthens,  in  the  manner  I  am  told  works  of 
this  sort  are  effected  in  the  inland  parts  of  England,  or  upon 
the  plan  of  turnpike  roads;  you  would  add  thereby  a  third 
class  of  men,  to  the  two  I  have  mentioned,  and  gain  consider- 
able strength  by  it.  I  mean  the  monied  gentry,  who  tempted 
by  lucrative  views  would  advance  largely  on  account  of  the 
high  interest. 

"This  I  am  inclined  to  think,  is  the  only  method  by  which 
this  desirable  work  will  ever  be  accomplished  in  the  manner 
it  ought  to  be,  for  as  to  its  becoming  an  object  of  public 
expense,  I  never  expect  to  see  it.  Our  interests  (in  Virginia 
at  least)  are  too  much  divided — our  views  too  confined,  if  our 
finances  were  better,  to  suffer  that,  which  appears  to  redound 


20  The  Frederick  Town  Adventurers. 

to  the  advantage  of  a  part  of  the  eoiumunity  onlj',  to  become 
a  tax  on  the  whole,  though  in  the  instance  before  us,  there  is 
the  strongest  speculative  proof  in  the  world  to  me  of  the  im- 
mense advantages  which  Virginia  and  ^Maryland  might  derive, 
(and  at  a  very  small  comparative  expense)  by  making  the 
Potowmack  the  channel  of  commerce  between  Great  Britain 
and  that  immense  territory,  a  tract  of  country  which  is 
unfolding  to  our  view,  the  advantages  of  which  are  too  great 
and  too  obvious,  I  should  think  to  become  the  subject  of  serious 
debate,  but  which  through  ill-timed  parsimony  and  supineness 
may  be  wrested  from  us  and  conducted  through  other  chan- 
nels, such  as  the  Susquehanna,  (which  I  liave  seen  recom- 
mended by  some  writers) — the  Lakes,  &c.  How  difficult  it  will 
be  to  divert  it  afterwards  time  only  can  show. 

"Thus  far,  sir,  I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  communicating 
my  sentiments  on  the  different  modes  of  establishing  a  fund, 
but  if  from  the  efforts  you  have  already  made  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Potowmack  it  should  be  found  that  my  views  are 
rather  imaginary  than  real,  (as  I  heartily  wish  they  may 
prove)  I  have  no  doubt  but  the  same  spirit  may  be  stirred  up 
on  the  south  side,  if  gentlemen  of  influence  in  the  counties  of 
Hampshire,  Frederick,  Loudoun  and  Fairfax  vdW  heartily 
engage  in  it  and  receive  all  occasional  sums,  received  from 
those  who  may  wish  to  see  a  work  of  this  sort  undertaken, 
although  they  expect  no  benefit  themselves  from  it. 

"As  to  the  manner  in  which  you  propose  to  execute  the 
work  in  order  to  avoid  the  inconvenience  which  you  seem  to 
apprehend  from  locks,  I  profess  myself  to  be  a  very  incompe- 
tent judge  of  it.  It  is  a  general  received  opinion  I  know  that 
by  reducing  one  fall  you  too  frequently  create  many,  but  how 
far  this  inconvenience  is  to  be  avoided  by  the  method  you 
speak  of,  those  who  have  examined  the  rifts — the  depth  of 
water  above,  &c.  must  be  infinitely  the  best  qualified  to  deter- 
mine. But  I  am  inclined  to  think  that,  if  you  were  to  exhibit 
your  scheme  to  the  public  upon  a  more  extensive  plan  than 
the  one  now  printed,  it  would  meet  wdth  a  more  general  appro- 
bation, for  so  long  as  it  is  considered  a  partial  scheme,  so  long 
will  it  be  partially  attended  to — whereas — if  it  was  recom- 


The  Vandalia  Company.  2i 

mended  to  the  public  notice  upon  a  more  enlarged  plan,  and  as 
a  means  of  becoming  the  channel  of  commerce  of  the  extensive 
and  valuable  trade  of  a  rising  empire; — and  the  operations 
to  begin  at  the  lower  landings,  (also  the  Great  Falls),  and  to 
extend  upwards  to  as  high  as  Fort  Cumberland,  or  as  far  as 
the  expenditure  of  the  money  would  carry  them,  from  whence 
the  portage  to  the  waters  of  the  Ohio  must  commence,  I  think 
many  would  be  induced  to  contribute  their  mite,  that  other- 
wise will  not.  It  may  be  said  the  expense  of  doing  this  will 
be  considerably  augmented.  I  readily  grant  it,  but  I  believe 
that  the  subscriptions  will  increase  in  proportion ;  at  any  rate 
I  think  that  there  will  be  at  least  an  equal  sum  raised  by  this 
means,  and  that  the  end  of  your  plan  will  be  as  effectually 
answered  by  it." 

Johnson's  scheme  is  probably  the  one  referred  to  by 
Scharf^^  where  he  gives  the  following  gentlemen  as 
managers:  Colonel  George  Mason,  Jacob  Hite,  James 
Hamilton,  John  Hongh,  John  Patterson  and  Abraham 
Hite,  of  Virginia ;  Eev.  Thos.  Bacon,  Dr.  David  Ross, 
Christopher  Loundes,  Thos.  Cresap,  Benj.  Chambers, 
Jonathan  Hagar,  Thos.  Prather,  John  Carey,  Casper 
Schaaf,  Robt.  Peter  and  Evan  Shelby,  of  Maryland; 
Colonel  George  Mercer  and  Col.  Thos.  Prather  were 
elected  treasurers. 

Vandalia  Company. 

Others  ontside  of  Maryland  and  Virginia  were  obser- 
vant of  the  natural  restrictions  upon  western  trade. 
Robert  Morris,  of  Philadelphia,  the  greatest  of  all 
American  promoters,  published  in  1764  a  scheme  for 
utilizing  the  Schuylkill  and  Susquehanna  rivers  to 
reach  the  upper  Alleghany."^    Sir  William  Johnson,  of 

^^Scharf,  "History  of  Maryland,"  Vol.  2,  p.  258.  The  date,  1762,  is 
evidently  an  error. 

''  Morris,  ' '  An  Historical  Account  of  Rise  and  Progress  and  Present 
State  of  Canal  Navigation  in  Pennsylvania,"  1795. 


22  The  Vandalla  Company. 

New  York,  Governor  Richard  Franklin,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Samuel  Wharton,  merchant,  with  George  Cro- 
ghan,  hunter  and  trader,  were  planning  colonization 
on  a  gigantic  scale.^*^  The  Indian  tribes  north  of  the 
Ohio  who  had  plundered  Wharton's  stores  and  mur- 
dered some  of  his  traders,  were  summoned  to  a  council 
at  Fort  Stanwix  on  the  Mohawk  in  1768.  After  many 
days  of  feasting  and  drinking  the  savages  were  cajoled 
into  signing  away  an  enormous  quantity  of  western 
land  to  the  white  men.^' 

Wharton  then  went  to  London  and  associated  with 
himself  Benjamin  Franklin,  Thos.  Walpole,  a  man  of 
political  influence  and  wealth,  our  old  acquaintance, 
John  Hanbury,  Governor  Thos.  Pownall  and  others  in 
an  effort  to  secure  a  grant  of  land  from  the  crown  for 
a  new  colony  beyond  the  mountains.  After  many  vexa- 
tious delays  they  were  about  to  succeed  in  establishing 
the  buffer  province  of  Vandalia  when  the  expose  of 
Franklin's  connection  with  the  Hutchinson  letters 
ruined  their  schemes. 

Immediately  after  the  close  of  hostilities  on  the  fron- 
tier the  Ohio  Company  had  sent  George  Mercer,  son  of 
the  secretary,  to  London  to  renew  the  old  charter.  He 
remained  there  six  years,  accomplishing  nothing;  he 
finally  accepted  for  the  company  an  offer  to  combine 
with  the  Walpole  Company  and  returned  to  America 
about  1774.  The  Ohio  Company  refused  to  confirm 
his  action.  In  1770  Mercer  had  the  assistance  of  Thos. 
Cresap,  who  went  from  Maryland  for  the  purpose. 

In  1754  Virginia  had  made  a  grant  of  200,000  acres 
on  the  Kanawha  for  the  benefit  of  her  men  engaged  in 
the  French  and  Indian  War.  There  was  much  diffi- 
culty in  locating  these  military  warrants.     Washing- 

'*  See  Benj.  Franklin's  letters  to  his  son,  in  Smyth,  Vols.  4-5-6. 
"  Halsey,  ' '  Old  New  York  Frontier, ' '  p.  99. 


The  Vandalia  Company.  23 

ton  became  the  agent  of  the  claimants  and  served  his 
clients  faithfully.  In  1770  he  made  a  personal  inspec- 
tion of  the  lands  on  the  Ohio  and  Kanawha.  On  the 
way  homeward  he  visited  Colonel  Cresap,  who  had  re- 
cently returned  from  London  with  the  latest  informa- 
tion of  the  new  province  on  the  Ohio.^^  He  at  once 
wrote  several  eloquent  letters  to  Governors  Bote£c)urt 
and  Dunmore,  pleading  for  justice  for  the  defenders 
of  Virginia's  frontiers.^''  Mercer  had  secured  recog- 
nition of  the  soldiers'  rights  from  the  Walpole  Com- 
pany, but  Washington  was  evidently  ignorant  of  it.^*^ 

While  all  this  paper  disputation  was  going  on  set- 
tlers were  pouring  into  the  rich  valleys  beyond  the 
mountains,  selecting  homesteads  and  paying  scant  at- 
tention to  paper  titles,  fearing  only  the  wily  foe  who 
lurked  in  the  surrounding  thickets. ^^ 

For  many  years  Washington  was  a  member  of  the 
Virginia  House  of  Burgesses.  Early  in  1772  he  se- 
cured an  act  for  opening  the  Potomac  navigation.^^ 
AVriting  to  Dr.  Boucher  from  Mt.  Vernon,  May  4,  1772, 
he  referred  to  this  act : 

"...  An  act  has  passed  this  session  empowering  Trustees 
(to  be  chosen  by  ye  Subscribers  to  the  Scheme)  to  raise  money 
by  way  of  Subscriptions  &  Lottery,  for  the  purpose  of  opening 
&  extending  the  Navigation  of  Potowmack  from  the  Tide 
water,  to  Fort  Cumberland ;  &  for  perpetuating  the  Tolls  aris- 
ing from  vessels  to  the  Adventurers  in  the  Scheme — but  ye 
execution  of  it  must  necessarily  be  suspended  till  something 
similar  passes  into  a  Law  in  your  Province." 

^  Ford,  Vol.  2,  Diary,  Oct.  8,  1770. 

^"Ford,  Vol.  2,  p.  272. 

*"  Mercer  secured  from  the  Walpole  Co.  for  the  Ohio  Co.  2/72  of  the 
new  grant,  for  himself  1/72.  This  last  possibly  had  something  to  do 
with  the  company's  repudiation  of  the  contract. 

"Doddridge,  Joseph,  "Notes  on  Settlement  in  A^a.,"  pp.  99-112. 

*^  Hening,  Va.  Statutes,  Vol.  8,  p.  573.     Ford,  Vol.  2,  p.  348. 


24  The  Ballendine  Scheme. 

Thomas  Johnson  exerted  himself  to  secure  a  like  act 
from  the  Maryland  assembly  but  failed  on  account  of 
the  opposition  of  Baltimore  merchants.  This  is  al- 
luded to  in  Washington's  letter  to  Jefferson  from  Mt. 
Vernon,  March  29,  1784. 

"...  More  than  ten  years  ago  I  secured  the  passage  of  an 
act  for  the  opening  of  Potowmack  navigation.  .  .  .  The  local 
interest  of  that  place  (Baltimore)  joined  to  the  short-sighted 
policies  or  contracted  views  of  another  part  of  the  Assembly 
gave  ]\Ir.  Thos.  Johnson,  who  was  a  w^arm  Promoter  of  the 
Scheme  on  the  north  side  of  the  Potowmack  a  great  deal  of 
trouble." 

The  Ballendixe  Scheme. 

John  Ballendine,  gentleman,  of  Fairfax  County,  Vir- 
ginia, for  many  years  engaged  in  iron  works  at  Col- 
chester^^ and  at  the  Falls  of  the  James  Eiver,  familiar 
with  the  Potomac,  took  notice  of  the  drift  of  public 
interest  and  concocted  a  most  brilliant  plan  for  achiev- 
ing fame — and  a  fortune.  Taking  advantage  of  a 
meeting  of  the  governors  of  the  two  colonies.  Lord 
Fairfax  and  a  number  of  prominent  gentlemen  in 
Prince  William  County,^^  he  secured  from  them  on  the 
8th  of  May,  1772,  a  testimonial  of  their  confidence  in 
his  integrity  and  ability  with  a  subscription  to  a  fund 
to  enable  him  to  go  to  Great  Britain  to  examine  canals, 
locks,  etc.  there  in  operation  with  a  view  to  applying 
the  knowledge  thus  obtained  to  the  improvement  of  the 
navigation  of  the  Potomac  and  James  rivers.  In  Au- 
gust he  inspected  the  Potomac  and  from  the  head  of 
the  navigable  waters  of  the  North  Branch  he  followed 

«Ford,  Vol.  2,  p.  142.  Washington  Diary,  Jan  8,  1760:  "Directed  an 
Indictment  to  be  formed  by  Mr.  Johnston  against  John  Ballendine  for 
a  fraud  in  some  Iron  he  sold  me."  Sept.  24,  1768:  "Colo  Henry  Lee 
&  Lady  &  Miss  Ballendine  came  to  dinner  &  stayd  all  night." 

**  Ford,  Vol.  2.  Washington  in  letter  to  Boucher  refers  to  Gov.  Eden's 
visit  to  Va.,  May  23,  1772. 


The  Ballendine  Scheme.  25 

the  Nemacolin  Path  to  the  Monongahela  in  "the  pro- 
posed Ohio  Province."  He  announced  that  the  dis- 
tance between  the  two  rivers  was  not  more  than  ten  or 
eleven  miles  !^^ 

He  reached  London  with  his  credentials  in  the  height 
of  the  Walpole  Company  excitement  and  was  doubtless 
well  received.^*^  Franklin  had  opened  the  way  for  Bal- 
lendine in  his  famous  reply  to  the  Lords  Commission- 
ers of  Trade  in  which  he  stated : 

"The  country  is  well  watered  by  several  navigable  rivers 
communicating  with  each  other  and  by  which  and  a  short  land 
carriage  of  only  forty  miles  the  produce  of  the  lands  of  the 
Ohio  can  even  now  be  sent  cheaper  to  the  seaport  town  of 
Alexandria  on  the  river  Potomac  than  any  kind  of  merchan- 
dise is  at  present  sent  from  Northampton  to  London."*^ 

Soon  Ballendine  (1773)  had  in  circulation  his  ''Pro- 
posals for  opening  the  navigation  of  the  Elvers  James 
and  Potomac"  and  was  seeking  subscribers.  It  was 
a  formidable  document  by  which  the  subscriber  was 
insured  against  all  possible  loss,  the  installments  of  the 
sums  subscribed  were  to  be  paid  only  on  the  certifica- 
tions of  the  two  governors  that  certain  portions  of  the 
work  had  been  completed  in  a  satisfactory  manner.  In 
a  printed  advertisement  widely  circulated  he  stated : 

"  It  is  proposed  by  Mr,  Ballendine  that  the  locks  intended  to 
be  erected  in  the  Rivers  James  and  Potomac  shall  always  have 
four  feet  of  water  in  them,  as  that  is  the  general  depth  of  those 
rivers,  except  in  the  spring  and  fall  (which  are  the  great 
periods  of  exportation  and  importation  from  and  into  Mary- 

*"'A  connected  view  of  the  whole  internal  navigation  of  the  U.  S.," 
published  by  the  author,  Phila.,  1830  (written  1825),  in  which  the  Ballen- 
dine English  contracts  were  copied.  I  have  been  so  far  unable  to  locate 
the  original  authority. 

*«  Spark's  "Washington,"  Vol.  2,  appendix  7,  p.  483. 

"  Same  as  above. 


26  The  Ballendine  Scheme. 

land  and  Virginia)  when  these  rivers  usually  have  from  six 
to  eight  feet  water  in  them.  Mr.  Ballendine  is  thoroughly- 
convinced  from  an  experience  of  fifteen  years  that  all  kinds 
of  British  goods  can  be  carried  from  George  Town  to  the  head 
of  navigation  at  6d.  ster.  per  cwt.  He  proposes  at  first  to 
employ  Ijarges  of  only  60  feet  keel,  15  feet  wide  and  8  feet  in 
depth,  which  will  not  draw  more  than  two  feet  of  water.  But 
when  the  country  on  the  Ohio  is  thickly  settled,  barges  of  150 
and  200  tons  can  be  properly  made  use  of.  It  requires  but 
three  days  for  barges  to  go  down  the  stream  from  head  waters 
to  Alexandria  and  eight  to  ascend." 

Franklin's  political  difficulties  probably  defeated 
Ballendine 's  efforts  in  London,  at  any  rate  he  is  known 
to  have  been  circulating  a  subscription  among  the 
prominent  gentlemen  of  Virginia  and  Maryland  in 
1774.  In  his  efforts  he  liberally  patronized  the  Mary- 
land and  Virginia  Gazettes. 

From  the  Maryland  Gazette  of  September  8,  1774: 

"The  subscriber  being  just  arrived  from  Great  Britain  with 
a  number  of  engineers  and  artificers  in  order  to  remove  the 
obstructions  to  the  navigation  of  the  Potowmack  River  at  and 
above  the  Lower  Falls  and  tliinking  himself  fully  qualified  for 
such  an  undertaking,  agreable  to  the  proposals  before  his  em- 
barkation to  Europe,  he  is  desirous  to  have  a  meeting  of  his 
principal  subscribers  and  others  interested  in  this  necessary 
work,  and  considering  it  most  convenient  to  all  concerned  to 
have  the  same  at  George  Town  in  Maryland,  he  proposes  that 
it  shall  be  there  on  Monday,  26th  day  of  September  next.  At 
which  time  and  place  he  will  certainly  attend  and  be  ready 
to  lay  before  them  an  accurate  plan  and  estimates  of  the 
expence,  also  an  Act  of  the  Virginia  Assembly,  and  likewise  a 
subscription  from  some  of  the  principal  proprietors,  &c.  of  the 
Province  of  Vandalia  now  residing  in  England,  for  the  further 
encouragement  of  the  proposed  undertaking. 

' '  ( Signed )         John  Ballendine.  ' ' 


The  Ballendine  Scheme.  27 

A  meeting  was  held  at  Georgetown  on  October  10, 
attended  by  Washington,  Johnson  and  other  promi- 
nent men,  who  subscribed  substantial  sums  to  the  fol- 
lowing :^^ 

"We  the  subscribers,  have  considered  John  Ballendine 's 
plan  and  proposal  for  clearing  Potowmack  River  and  do  ap- 
prove it ;  to  enable  him  to  set  about  that  useful  and  necessary- 
undertaking  we  do  hereby  agree  and  promise  severally  to  con- 
tribute such  assistance  or  pay  such  sums  as  we  respectively 
subscribe  to  the  trustees  named  in  the  said  proposals,  or  to 
their  order,  at  such  times  and  places  and  in  such  proportions 
as  shall  be  required  for  the  purpose  of  clearing  said  river. 
Witness  our  hands  this  10th.  day  of  Oct.  1774. 

"N.  B.  As  nothing  effectual  can  be  properly  done  for  less 
than  £30.000,  this  subscription  is  not  binding  unless  the  value 
of  £30.000  Pennsylvania  currency,  be  subscribed." 

About  £8,000  in  the  various  currencies  in  use  was 
subscribed  at  the  meeting,  Washington  heading  the  list 
with  £500  Virginia  currency,  Ch.  Carroll,  of  Carroll- 
ton,  following  with  $1,000  at  7.6.  Thos.  Johnson  was 
present  and  David  Ross  for  the  Frederick  Company 
subscribed £400  (was  this  the  company  formed  by  John- 
son in  1770?).  This  meeting  was  followed  by  this  an- 
nouncement in  the  Maryland  Gazette  of  October  25 : 

"A  plan  and  estimate  for  opening  the  navigation  of  Potow- 
mack River  above  the  Falls  being  approved  by  many  persons 
interested  therein  the  following  gentlemen  are  appointed 
Trustees  by  the  subscriber  to  adjust  and  settle  all  matters 
related  thereto;  George  Washington,  George  Mason,  Thomp- 
son Mason,  Bryan  Fairfax,  Daniel  McCarty,  John  Carlyle, 
John  Dalton,  Wm.  Ramsay,  Robert  Adam,  Wm.  Ellzey,  John 
Hough,  Jos.  Janney,  Isaac  Lane,  Robt.  Rutherford,  Abram 
Hite,  Jos.  Neville  of  Virginia,  Gentlemen — Thos.  Johnson  Jr., 

**From  a  paper,  ''Old  Georgetown,"  read  by  Mr.  Hugh  Taggart  before 
the  Columbia  Historical  Society,  May  13,  1907.     Authority  not  given. 


28  The  Ballendine  Scheme. 

Laimcelot  Jaqiies,  Daniel  Carroll,  David  Ross,  Eol)t.  Peter, 
John  Murdock,  Thos.  Richardson,  Thos.  Johns,  Wm.  Deakins, 
Adam  Stewart,  Richard  Thompson,  John  Hanson,  Clias. 
Beatty,  John  Gary,  Jacob  Young,  James  Marshall,  Dan.  & 
Sam.  Hughes,  Thos.  Cresap,  Jonathan  Hagar,  John  Stall  of 
Maryland,  Gentlemen; — who  are  requested  to  meet  at  George 
Town  on  Saturday  the  12th  of  November  in  order  to  elect  and 
choose  a  small  and  convenient  number  of  the  Trustees  which 
shall  be  a  committee  to  act  for  the  whole.  This  meeting  is 
judged  to  be  the  more  necessary  as  the  subscriber  is  now  at 
work  on  the  locks  at  the  lower  Falls  on  the  IMaryland  side  of 
the  river  with  what  hands  he  has. 

"(Signed)         John  Ballendine." 

From  the  Virginia  Gazette  of  January  14,  1775 : 

"F.\1.LS  OF  THE  POTOWMACK,  Dec.  22,  1774. 
"At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  for  opening  the  navigation  of 
Potowmack  River  held  at  George  Town  Dec.  1,  1774  Thos. 
Johnson,  Jr.,  Attorney-at-law,  Wm.  Deakins,  Adam  Stewart, 
Thos.  Johns,  Thos.  Richardson,  of  Georgetown,  merchants, — 
Wm.  Ellzey,  Robt.  Alexander,  Philip  Alexander  of  Virginia 
present,  who  ordered  and  directed  that  the  subscriber  should 
on  the  credit  and  at  the  risk  of  the  above  named  Trustees  hire 
fifty  slaves  to  labor  in  cutting  the  canals  around  the  several 
Falls  of  said  River;  and  at  another  meeting  of  Trustees  for 
the  purpose  aforesaid  held  at  Alexandria  19th  inst.,  present 
Geo.  Washington,  John  Carlyle,  John  Dalton,  Wm.  Ramsay, 
Gentlemen  of  Virginia  together  with  many  of  the  Trustees  at 
the  former  meeting,  who  recognized  and  approved  of  the  order 
for  hiring  fifty  slaves  and  agreed  to  become  equally  liable. 
In  consequence  of  which  order  of  the  Trustees  I  hereby  give 
notice  that  I  want  to  hire  negro  men  for  the  ensuing  year  for 
the  purpose  above  mentioned.  Any  person  inclining  to  hire 
the  whole  or  any  part  of  them  may  see  the  proceedings  of  the 
said  Trustees  subscribed  with  their  respective  hands  in  my 
custody. 

' '  ( Signed )         John  Ballendine.  ' ' 


The  Ballend'me  Scheme,  29 

Again  in  the  issue  for  October  28,  1775 : 

"Falls  of  the  James  River,  Oct.  25.  1775. 

"At  the  earnest  solicitation  of  many  gentlemen  on  Potow- 
mack  and  influenced  by  my  own  interest  on  that  river  I  have 
been  endeavoring  to  open  its  navigation  from  tide  water 
upwards,  and  have  been  at  considerable  expense  in  prepara- 
tion &c.  to  forward  that  useful  work,  but  the  necessity  of  a 
Maryland  Act  of  Assembly  co-operating  with  one  passed  in 
Virginia  and  which  I  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  has  obliged 
me  to  decline  it  for  the  present.  This  disappointment  would 
be  the  more  affecting  if  it  did  not  afford  me  an  opportunity 
of  employing  my  time  and  attention  in  opening  and  extending 
the  navigation  of  James  River,  which  though  a  work  less 
interesting  to  me  is  of  equal  utility  to  the  public.  But  to 
make  my  interest  in  some  measure  correspond  with  the  pub- 
lick's  I  have  paid  £360  sterling  to  Mr.  Patrick  Coutts  for  the 
lands  situated  on  the  river  where  the  water  must  be  taken 
out  into  the  canal  &  which  I  have  began  and  done  some  part 
of  the  canal  with  other  improvements  very  expensive. 

"I  therefore  inform  the  publick  that  having  a  fee  simple 
therein,  I  am  going  on  with  the  canal  at  my  own  expense,  and 
will  farther  risk  my  whole  fortune  &  time  on  the  success  of 
my  undertaking,  and  desire  no  aid  or  assistance  until  I  make 
this  navigation  safe  and  easy  to  Shockoe  w^arehouse ;  expecting 
never-the-less  the  more  large  &  generous  contributions  from 
all  w^ho  benefit  when  the  work  is  done. 

"(Signed)         John  Ballendine. 


I  want  to  hire  100  slaves  for  the  above  purpose  and 
should  be  glad  to  treat  with  any  person  or  persons  inclinable ; 
at  the  same  time  could  assist  with  the  best  part  of  their  winter 
clothing,  if  not  otherwise  provided." 

But  the  lowering  of  another  war  cloud  et¥ectually 
terminated  all  these  efforts  for  public  improvements 
and  we  have  no  record  of  attempts  to  open  an  easier 
communication   with   the  great   west   for  ten  years, 


/" 


30  The  Ballendine  Scheme. 

although  settlers  in  an  ever  increasing  number  fol- 
lowed the  sun  on  the  old  ' '  Nemocolin  Path. ' ' 

Ballendine 's  furnace  at  Eichmond  was  offered  at 
sheriff's  sale.  His  proprietary  rights  there,  however, 
received  recognition  in  the  charter  secured  in  1784  for 
the  "James  Eiver  and  Potowmack  Companies." 

When  the  Potowmack  Company  was  organized  in 
1785  for  the  purpose  of  improving  the  navigation  of 
that  river,  John  Ballendine  was  one  of  the  first  sub- 
scribers to  the  stock.^^ 

^"Hening  Statutes  of  Va.,  Vol.  11,  p.  580,  1784.  "And  be  it  farther 
enacted,  That  so  much  of  every  act,  and  acts  within  the  purview  of  this 
Act,  shall  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  repealed.  Provided,  nevertheless, 
That  nothing  in  this  act  shall  be  construed  so  as  to  take  away  the  right 
which  the  representatives  of  John  Ballendine  have  to  that  part  of  the 
canal  which  is  already  begun,  and  to  all  the  advantages  resulting  from 
the  same,  but  the  same  shall  be  valued  by  a  jury  in  manner  and  form  as 
before  directed  and  the  said  representatives  shall  be  entitled  to  so  many 
shares  in  the  said  Company,  and  to  so  much  of  the  surplus  water  as  the 
said  jury  shall  determine,  or  they  shall  receive,  at  their  option,  the  value 
thereof  in  money,  to  be  estimated  by  the  said  jury." 


PAET    II. 

THE   PATOWMACK   COMPANY 
1785  to  1828. 

From  Its  Unpublislied  Records. 

(By  Permission  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio 
Canal  Company.) 


Great  8eal  of  the  Patowmack  Company 
(Reproduced  from  Original  by  tlie  Maurice  Joyce  Co.) 


[Eeprinted  from  the  Eecords  of  the  Columbia  Historical  Society.] 


THE    PATOWMACK   COMPANY,  1785-1828. 

(Bead  before  the  Society,  November  21,  1911.) 

During  the  long  serious  years  of  the  Revolutionary 
War  emigration  to  the  fertile  country  west  of  the 
mountains  increasingly  continued.  Three  routes  were 
popular:  Boone's  path  through  Cumberland  Gap,  by 
the  mountain  passes  of  Pennsylvania,  and  by  the  most 
direct  and  best  improved  road,  so  often  the  recipient 
of  public  funds,  from  Fort  Cumberland  to  Old  Fort 
Red  Stone  on  the  Monongahela.  It  had  been  opened 
in  1748  by  the  Ohio  Company,  made  fit  for  wagons  in 
military  service  in  1753-4,  thoroughly  graded  and 
bridged  by  Braddock  in  1754,  well  repaired  by  A^irginia 
in  1766  and  thereafter  kept  in  condition  for  the  contin- 
uous traffic  to  the  west.  To  it  converged  the  two 
routes  from  Baltimore  and  Winchester;  it  was  also 
much  used  by  Philadelphia  traders.^ 

Washington  from  his  youth  had  regarded  the  west- 
ern country  with  its  trade  as  of  incalculable  value  to 
Virginia ;  we  have  seen  his  effort  in  the  Legislature  to 
secure  means  to  utilize  the  Potomac  River  for  trans- 
portation,^ and  his  cheerful  assistance  in  the  Ballen- 
dine  scheme,  Utopian  as  it  was.  The  idea  did  not  en- 
tirely give  way  to  the  excitement  of  war;  Maryland 
business  men  were  constantly  revolving  schemes  for 
easier  communication  with  western  settlers.  In  the 
spring  of  1783  the  legislature  passed  an  act  appoint- 
ing   Charles    Beatty,    of    Montgomery    County,    and 

^  See  Washington 's  letter  to  Colonel  Bouquet  in  Part  I. 
^  Heniug,  "Act  of  the  Virginia  Legislature  in  1772." 

4  33 


/S. 


y-T-- 


34  The  Patowmack  Company. 

Normand  Bruce,  of  Frederick,  commissioners  to  ex- 
amine tlie  Potomac  Eiver  and  make  an  estimate  of  the 
cost  of  making  it  navigable,  and  they  had  drawn  £250 
for  preliminary  expense.^  If  they  made  a  report  it  is 
not  now  to  be  found. 

During  the  tedious  waiting  for  the  dismissal  of  the 
army,  Washington  often  thought  of  his  lands  on  the 
Ohio  and  of  a  more  ready  access  to  them,  as  well  as  of 
the  political  significance  of  the  isolated  settlements. 
His  letters  to  Lafayette  and  Chastellux  are  of  peculiar 
interest  in  this  connection. 

' '  To  THE  Marquis  de  Latayette, 

"Princeton,  12  October,  1783. 

"  ...  I  have  it  in  contemplation  to  make  a  tour  thro'  all 
the  Eastern  States,  thence  into  Canada,  thence  up  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  thro'  the  lakes  to  Detroit,  thence  to  Lake  Mich- 
igan by  land  or  water,  thence  thro'  the  Western  Country,  by 
the  river  Illinois  to  the  river  Mississippi,  and  dow^n  the  same 
to  New  Orleans,  thence  into  Georgia  by  the  way  of  Pensacola, 
and  then  thro'  the  two  Carolinas  home.  A  great  tour  this, 
you  will  say.  Probably  it  may  take  place  nowhere  but  in 
imagination,  tho'  it  is  my  wish  to  begin  it  in  the  latter  end  of 
April  of  next  year." 

"To  THE  Chevalier  de  Chastellux. 

' '  Princeton,  12  October,  1783. 

"Having  the  appearance,  and  indeed  the  enjoyment  of 
peace,  without  a  final  declaration  of  it,  I,  who  am  only  wait- 
ing for  the  ceremonials,  or  till  the  British  forces  shall  have 
taken  leave  of  New  York,  am  placed  in  an  awkward  and  disa- 
greeable situation,  it  being  my  anxious  desire  to  quit  the  walks 
of  public  life,  and  under  the  shadow  of  my  own  vine  and  my 
own  fig  tree  to  seek  those  enjoyments  and  that  relaxation, 

^Original  draft  among  papers  of  1783  in  Maryland  Historical  Society 
collections. 


The  Patowmack  Cornpany.  35 

which  a  mind,  that  has  been  constantly  upon  the  stretch  for 
more  than  eight  years,  stands  so  much  in  need  of." 

"I  have  lately  made  a  tour  through  the  Lakes  George  and 
Champlain,  as  far  as  Crown  Point.  Then  returning  to  Sche- 
nectady, I  proceeded  up  the  Mohawk  River  to  Fort  Schuyler 
(formerly  Fort  Stanwix),  and  crossed  over  to  the  Wood 
Creek,  w^hich  empties  into  the  Oneida  Lake,  and  affords  the 
water  communication  with  Lake  Ontario.  I  then  traversed  the  p /^ 
country  to  the  head  of  the  eastern  branch  of  the  Susquehanna, 
and  viewed  the  Lake  Otsego,  and  the  portage  between  that 
Lake  and  the  Mohawk  River  at  Canajoharie.  Prompted  by 
these  actual  observations,  I  could  not  help  taking  a  more  con- 
templative and  extensive  view  of  the  vast  inland  navigation  of 
these  United  States,  from  maps  and  the  information  of  others ; 
and  could  not  but  be  struck  with  the  immense  diffusion  and 
importance  of  it,  and  with  the  goodness  of  that  Providence, 
which  has  dealt  her  favors  to  us  with  so  profuse  a  hand. 
Would  to  God  we  may  have  wisdom  enough  to  improve  them. 
I  shall  not  rest  contented,  till  I  have  explored  the  western 
country,  and  traversed  those  lines,  or  great  part  of  them, 
which  have  given  bounds  to  a  new  empire.  But  when  it  may, 
if  it  ever  shall,  happen,  I  dare  not  say,  as  my  first  attention 
must  be  given  to  the  deranged  situation  of  my  private  con- 
cerns, which  are  not  a  little  injured  by  almost  nine  years' 
absence  and  total  disregard  of  them,  ..." 

On  the  occasion  of  the  resignation  of  his  commission 
as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  Washington  spent 
several  days  in  Annapolis,  where  the  congress  of  the 
United  States  was  then  in  session.  The  State  legisla- 
ture was  also  in  session.  Certainly  the  opportunities 
were  improved  for  exchange  of  opinions  on  this  en- 
grossing subject,  in  which  Thos.  Jolmson  at  least  was 
equally  enthusiastic,  and  Thos.  Jefferson  discursive  as 
usual.^ 

*" Annals  of  Annapolis,"  David  Ridgeley,  1840. 


36  The  Patowmack  Company. 

While  still  enjoying  the  relaxation  of  rest  at  home, 
he  wrote  the  following  beautiful  letters : 

' '  To  THE  ]\Iarquis  de  Lafayette. 

"Mount  Vernon,  1  February,  1784. 

*'At  length,  my  dear  Marquis,  I  am  become  a  private  citizen 
on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac;  and  under  the  shadow  of  my 
own  vine  and  my  own  fig  tree,  free  from  the  bustle  of  a  camp, 
and  the  busy  scenes  of  public  life,  I  am  dolacing  myself  with 
those  tranquil  enjoyments,  of  which  the  soldier,  who  is  ever 
in  pursuit  of  fame,  the  statesman,  whose  watchful  days  and 
sleepless  nights  are  spent  in  devising  schemes  to  promote  the 
welfare  of  his  own,  perhaps  the  ruin  of  other  countries,  as  if 
this  globe  was  insufficient  for  us  all,  and  the  courtier,  who  is 
always  watching  the  countenance  of  his  prince,  in  hopes  of 
catching  a  gracious  smile,  can  have  very  little  conception.  I 
have  not  only  retired  from  all  public  employments,  but  I  am 
retiring  within  myself,  and  shall  be  able  to  view  the  solitary 
walk,  and  tread  the  paths  of  private  life,  with  heartfelt  satis- 
faction. Envious  of  none,  I  am  determined  to  be  pleased  with 
all;  and  this,  my  dear  friend,  being  the  order  for  my  march, 
I  will  move  gently  down  the  stream  of  life,  until  I  sleep  with 
my  fathers." 

' '  To  Major-General  Knox. 

IMouNT  Vernon,  20  February,  1784. 

"  ...  I  am  just  beginning  to  experience  that  ease  and 
freedom  from  public  cares,  which,  however  desirable,  takes 
some  time  to  realize ;  for  strange  as  it  may  seem,  it  is  never- 
theless true,  that  it  was  not  until  lately  I  could  get  the  better 
of  my  usual  custom  of  ruminating,  as  soon  as  I  waked  in  the 
morning,  on  the  business  of  the  ensuing  day;  and  of  my  sur- 
prise at  finding,  after  revolving  many  things  in  my  mind, 
that  I  was  no  longer  a  pviblic  man,  nor  had  any  thing  to  do 
with  public  transactions. 

' '  I  feel  now,  however,  as  I  conceive  a  wearied  traveller  must 
do,  who,  after  treading  many  a  painful  step  with  a  heavy 
burthen  on  his  shoulders,  is  eased  of  the  latter,  having  reached 


The  Patoxomack  Company.  37 

the  haven  to  which  all  the  former  were  directed;  and  from 
his  housetop  is  looking  back,  and  tracing  with  an  eager  eye 
the  meanders  by  which  he  escaled  the  quicksands  and  mires 
which  lay  in  his  way ;  and  into  which  none  but  the  all-powerful 
Guide  and  Dispenser  of  human  events  could  have  prevented 
his  falling. ' ' 

Neither  master  nor  mistress  found  the  anticipated 
calm  and  leisure;  the  long  neglect  of  business  and 
household  were  to  be  repaired,  old  friends  and  neigh- 
bors were  to  be  entertained;  but  amid  all  the  impera- 
tive demands  upon  mind  and  time  Washington  soon 
found  opportunities  for  conference  and  correspond- 
ence with  many  prominent  and  influential  men  in  the 
country  on  the  important  topic  of  communication  with 
the  west ;  Georsce  Mason,  James  Madison  and  Thomas 
Jefferson  were  confidential  friends,  often  in  earnest 
consultation  about  the  library  fire  at  Mount  Vernon. 
The  letters  of  March  to  and  from  Jefferson  are  inter- 
esting and  indicative  of  the  general  interest. 

"Thos.  Jefferson  to  Gen.  George  Washington. 

Annapolis,  March  6,  1784. 

"...  The  present  hurry  forbids  me  to  w'rite  to  you  on  a 
subject  I  have  much  at  heart,  the  approaching  &  opening  the 
Navigation  of  the  Ohio  &  Potowmac.  I  will  trouble  you  by 
the  next  post. ' ' 

"March  15, 
"  ...  It  (western  boundary)  will  preserve  to  us  all  the 
upper  parts  of  Yohogany  &  Cheat-rivers  within  which  much 
will  be  done  to  open  these  which  are  the  true  doors  to  the 
Western  commerce.  The  union  of  this  navigation  with  that  of 
the  Potowmac  is  a  subject  on  which  I  mentioned  that  I  would 
take  the  liberty  of  writing  to  you — I  am  sure  its  value  and 
practicability  are  well  known  to  you.  This  is  the  moment, 
however,  for  seizing  it  if  ever  we  mean  to  have  it.  All  the 
world  is  becoming  commercial.  .  .  .  For  the  trade  of  the  Ohio 


27950; 


38  The  PatOiCmack  Company. 

or  that  which  shall  come  into  it  from  its  own  waters  of  the 
Mississippi,  it  is  nearer  to  Alexandria  than  to  New  York  by 
730  miles  &  is  interrupted  by  one  portage  only.  Nature  then 
has  declared  in  favor  of  the  Potowmac  and  thro'  that  channel 
offers  to  pour  into  our  lap  the  whole  commerce  of  the  "Western 
world.  But  unfortunately  by  the  Hudson  is  already  open  & 
known  in  practice ;  ours  is  still  to  be  opened.  ...  It  behoves 
us  then  to  open  our  doors  to  it." 

"To  Thomas  Jefferson  in  Congress. 

"Mount  Vernon,  29  march,  1784. 

''Dear  Sir,  It  was  not  in  my  power  to  answer  your  favor  of 
the  15th  by  the  last  post,  for  the  reason  then  assigned.  I 
wish  I  may  be  able  to  do  it  to  your  satisfaction  now,  as  I  am 
obliged  to  pay  attention  to  the  other  company,  the  Governor 
being  gone. 

"My  opinion  coincides  perfectly  with  yours  respecting  the 
practicability  of  an  easy  and  short  communication  between 
the  waters  of  the  Ohio  and  Potomac,  of  the  advantages  of  that 
communication  and  the  preference  it  has  over  all  others,  and 
of  the  policy  there  would  be  in  this  State  of  Maryland  to 
adopt  and  render  it  facile.  But  I  confess  to  you  freely,  I 
have  no  expectation,  that  the  public  will  adopt  the  measure; 
for,  besides  the  jealousies  that  prevail,  and  the  difficulty  of 
proportioning  such  funds  as  may  be  allotted  for  the  purposes 
you  have  mentioned,  there  are  two  others,  which,  in  my  opin- 
ion, will  be  harder  yet  to  surmount.  These  are  (if  I  have  not 
imbibed  too  unfavorable  an  opinion  of  my  countrymen)  the 
impracticability  of  bringing  the  great  and  truly  wise  policy 
of  the  measure  to  their  view,  and  the  difficulty  of  extracting 
money  from  them  for  such  a  purpose,  if  it  could  be  done ;  for 
it  appears  to  me,  maugre  all  the  sufferings  of  the  public 
creditors,  breach  of  public  faith,  and  loss  of  reputation,  that 
payment  of  the  taxes,  which  are  already  laid,  will  be  post- 
poned as  long  as  possible.  How  then  are  we  to  expect  new 
ones  for  purposes  more  remote? 

"I  am  not  so  disinterested  in  this  matter  as  you  are;  but 
I  am  made  very  happy  to  find  that  a  man  of  discernment  and 


The  Patoxvmack  Company.  39 

liberality,  who  lias  no  particular  interest  in  the  plan,  thinks 
as  I  do,  who  have  lands  in  the  country,  the  value  of  which 
would  be  enhanced  by  the  adoption  of  such  a  measure. 

"More  than  ten  years  ago  I  was  struck  with  the  importance 
of  it ;  and,  despairing  of  any  aid  from  the  public,  I  became 
a  principal  mover  of  a  bill  to  empower  a  number  of  subscribers 
to  undertake  at  their  own  expense,  on  conditions  which  were 
expressed,  the  extension  of  the  navigation  from  tide  water  to 
Will 's  Creek,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles ;  and  I  de- 
voutly wish  that  this  may  not  be  the  only  expedient  by  which 
it  can  be  effected  now.  To  get  this  business  in  motion,  I  was 
obliged  even  upon  that  ground  to  comprehend  James  River, 
in  order  to  remove  the  jealousies,  which  arose  from  the  attempt 
to  extend  the  navigation  of  the  Potomac.  The  plan  however, 
was  in  a  tolerably  good  train,  when  I  set  out  for  Cambridge 
in  1775,  and  would  have  been  in  an  excellent  way,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  difficulties,  which  were  met  with  in  the  Maryland 
Assembly  from  the  opposition  which  was  given  (according  to 
report)  by  the  Baltimore  merchants,  who  were  alarmed,  and 
perhaps  not  without  cause,  at  the  consequence  of  water  trans- 
portation to  Georgetown  of  the  produce,  which  usually  came 
to  their  market  by  land. 

' '  The  local  interest  of  that  place,  joined  to  the  shortsighted 
politics  or  contracted  views  of  another  part  of  the  Assembly, 
gave  Mr.  Thomas  Johnson,  who  was  a  warm  promoter  of  the 
scheme  on  the  north  side  of  the  Potomac,  a  great  deal  of 
trouble.  In  this  situation  I  left  matters  when  I  took  command 
of  the  army.  The  war  afterwards  called  men's  attention  to 
different  objects,  and  all  the  money  they  could  or  would  raise 
was  applied  to  other  purposes.  But  with  you  I  am  satisfied 
that  not  a  moment  ought  to  be  lost  in  re-commencing  this 
business,  as  I  know  the  Yorkers  will  lose  no  time  to  remove 
every  obstacle  in  the  way  of  the  other  communication,  as  soon 
as  the  posts  of  Oswego  and  Niagara  are  surrendered;  and  I 
shall  be  mistaken  if  they  do  not  build  vessels  for  the  navi- 
gation of  the  Lakes,  which  will  supersede  the  necessity  of 
coasting  on  either  side. 

"It  appears  to  me  that  the  interest  and  policy  of  Maryland 


40  The  Patowmack  Company. 

are  proportionably  concerned  with  those  of  Virginia,  to  re- 
move obstructions,  and  to  invite  the  trade  of  the  western 
countery  into  the  channel  you  have  mentioned.  You  will  have 
frequent  opportunities  of  learning  the  sentiments  of  the  prin- 
cipal characters  of  that  State,  respecting  this  matter;  and 
I  wish  if  it  should  fall  in  your  way,  that  you  would  discourse 
with  Mr.  Thomas  Johnson,  formerly  governor  of  Maryland, 
on  this  subject.  How  far,  upon  mature  consideration,  I  may 
depart  from  the  resolution  I  had  formed,  of  living  perfectly 
at  my  ease,  exempt  from  every  form  of  responsibility,  is  more 
than  I  can  at  present  absolutely  determine.  The  sums  granted, 
the  manner  of  granting  them,  powers  and  objects,  would  merit 
consideration.  The  trouble,  if  my  situation  at  the  time  would 
permit  me  to  engage  in  a  work  of  the  sort,  would  be  set  at 
nought;  and  the  immense  advantages,  which  this  country 
would  derive  from  the  measure,  would  be  no  small  stimulus 
to  the  undertaking,  if  that  undertaking  could  be  made  to 
comport  with  those  ideas,  and  that  line  of  conduct,  with  which 
I  meant  to  glide  gently  down  the  current  of  life,  and  it  did  not 
interfere  with  any  other  plan  I  might  have  in  contemplation. ' ' 

"I  will  not  enter  upon  the  subject  of  commerce.  It  has  its 
advantages  and  disadvantages;  but  which  of  them  prepon- 
derates, is  not  now  the  question.  From  trade  our  citizens  will 
not  be  restrained,  and  therefore  it  behoves  us  to  place  it  in 
the  most  convenient  channels  under  proper  regulations,  freed 
as  much  as  possible  from  those  vices,  which  luxury,  the  conse- 
quence of  wealth  and  power,  naturally  introduce."    Etc.,  etc. 

It  only  required  the  earnest  persistence  and  power- 
ful influence  of  Washington  to  secure  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  first  company  for  making  easy  an  inter- 
communication with  the  great  west.  This  company 
was  the  lineal  successor  of  the  pioneer  Ohio  Company 
and  included  the  Frederick  Company  and  the  Ballen- 
dine  adventurers.  Its  successor  is  the  Chesapeake 
and  Ohio  Canal  Company,  which  I  believe  is  operated 
under  the  same  charter. 


J 


The  Patocvmack  Company.  41 

We  have  intimation  of  some  opposition  to  such  a 
scheme  in  the  letters  written  General  Washington  by 
one  Stephen  Sayre,  of  George  Town,  which  are  on  file 
in  the  Library  of  Congress.  In  the  one  dated  October 
10, 1784,  is  suggested  a  "Tontine  for  raising  money  for 
the  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Powtow- 
mack"  and  scouts  the  idea  that  any  locks  would  be 
necessary ;  he  had  a  plan  of  his  own  more  practicable 
to  propose  instead.  In  another  letter  dated  August  8 
he  urged  that  "no  time  be  lost  in  removing  prejudices 
against  the  work  which  are  worse  than  the  rocks  in 
our  way. ' ' 

One  great  obstacle  in  the  way  of  any  movement  for 
utilizing  the  Potomac  was  the  diversity  of  the  commer- 
cial laws  of  the  two  states.  By  some  carelessness  in 
the  legislation  of  1776  Virginia  had  ceded  to  Mary-  v^ 
land  jurisdiction  over  the  river,  reserving  only  the 
right  of  free  navigation.  The  situation  was  thus  ren- 
dered almost  intolerable  and  there  was  a  popular  de- 
mand for  an  adjustment  of  traffic  regulations.  James 
Madison,  Jr.,  an  able  and  earnest  young  man,  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  commerce  in  the  lower 
house  of  the  Virginia  legislature.  On  June  28,  1784,  ^ 
the  following  resolutions  which  he  introduced  were 
carried : 

"Whereas;  Great  inconveniences  are  found  to  result  from 
the  want  of  some  concerted  regulations  between  this  state  and 
the  state  of  Maryland  touching  the  jurisdiction  and  navigation 
of  the  river  Potomac ;  Resolved  that  George  INIason,  Edmund 
Randolph,  James  Madison,  Jr.  and  Alex.  Henderson,  Esqs.  be 
appointed  commissioners  and  that  they  or  any  three  of  them 
do  meet  such  commissioners  as  may  be  appointed  on  the  part 
of  Maryland  and  in  concert  with  them  frame  such  liberal  and 
equitable  regulations  concerning  said  river  as  may  be  mutually 
advantageous  to  the  two  states  and  that  they  make  report 


42  The  Patowmack  Company. 

thereon  to  the  General  Assembly.  Resolved ;  That  the  Execu- 
tive be  requested  to  notify  the  State  of  Maryland  of  the  above 
appointment,  with  the  object  of  it,  and  desire  its  concurrence 
in  the  proposition." 

In  Maryland  under  the  lead  of  Thomas  Johnson, 
then  in  the  state  senate,  the  proposition  was  accepted 
by  the  Assembly  and  Thos.  Johnson,  Thos.  Stone, 
Samuel  Chase  and  Daniel  of  St.  Thomas  Jenifer  ap- 
pointed conferees  to  meet  the  Virginians  at  Alexan- 
dria March  20,  1785.  The  result,  known  as  the  Mount 
Vernon  compact,  was  accepted  and  ratified  by  both 
legislatures.  The  outcome  has  been  considered  as  the 
origin  of  the  call  for  the  constitutional  convention  held 
at  Philadelphia  in  1787.^ 

During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1784  many  confer- 
ences were  held  in  both  states  and  the  public  became 
very  enthusiastic  over  the  prospect  of  a  great  inter- 
state improvement.  According  to  one  of  Madison's 
letters  to  Jefferson  it  is  evident  that  the  Baltimore  mer- 
chants still  opposed  the  scheme,  but  western  Maryland 
had  grown  powerful  in  twelve  years  and  western  Mary- 
land demanded  release  from  Baltimore  monopoly  and 
extortion. 

In  the  cool  days  of  September  Greneral  Washington 
set  out  for  a  journey  over  the  mountains  to  settle  some 
disputes  on  his  lands  near  Fort  Pitt,  and,  as  he  wrote  in 
his  diary  on  the  4th,  ''one  object  of  this  journey  is  to 
obtain  information  of  the  nearest  &  best  communica- 
tion between  the  eastern  and  western  Waters,  and  to 
facilitate  as  much  as  in  me  lay,  the  Inland  Navigation 
of  the  Potowmack."  Six  weeks  were  spent  on  this  ride 
of  680  miles,  going  over  the  familiar  Nemacolin  Path, 
returning  by  a  more  southerly  route  to  seek  a  possible 
good  portage  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Cheat,  state 

°  John  Fiske  in  ' '  Critical  Period. ' ' 


The  Patowmack  Company.  43 

policy  dictating-  avoidance  of  Pennsylvania  territory. 
He  found  a  long,  rough  and  perilous  way  over  indis- 
tinct mountain  trails,  but  no  feasible  portage.  On  this 
journey  he  encountered  Albert  Gallatin  in  a  frontier 
settlement.  At  Red  Stone  he  very  possibly  met  Jacob 
Joder,  who  had  recently  returned  from  a  most  re- 
markable venture ;  in  1782  he  had  taken  a  boat  load  of 
flour  down  the  rivers  to  New  Orleans,  there  disposed 
of  cargo  and  boat,  invested  in  furs  from  the  northwest 
which  he  took  to  Havana  and  exchanged  for  sugar 
which  he  sold  in  Philadelphia  for  a  handsome  profit. 
Thus  would  Washington  be  reminded  of  the  trade  and 
political  possibilities  of  free  navigation  of  the  Missis- 
sippi; this  political  interest  was  a  great  factor  in  his 
determination  to  effect  the  Potomac  transportation. 
The  territory  of  the  United  States  extended  to  the 
Mississippi,  which  was  nature's  outlet  for  the  com- 
merce of  the  immense  trans-Appalachian  region;  the 
lower  river  was  controlled  by  the  Spanish — it  would 
be  possible  for  them  to  induce  the  people  of  the  south- 
west to  unite  with  them ;  also  the  traders  from  Canada 
were  very  active  along  the  Great  Lakes  where  Great 
Britain  retained  possession  of  the  frontier  posts — 
surely  speedy  action  was  necessary  if  Virginia  would 
profit  by  the  opportunities  now  open  to  her. 

On  the  way  west  he  had  spent  a  night  at  Bath,  where 
we  learn  from  the  Maryland  Gazette  of  13  June,  1784, 
James  Rumsey  was  "at  the  time  associated  with  Rob- 
ert Throckmorton  in  keeping  a  very  commodious 
boarding  house  at  the  sign  of  the  Liberty  Pole  and 
Flag."  Rumsey  seized  this  opportunity  to  interest 
the  great  man  in  his  latest  invention  for  propelling 
boats  against  the  stream  by  a  mechanical  contrivance 
and  exhibited  his  model  which  worked  perfectly,  and 
secured  a  certificate  from  General  Washington.     Tliis 


V 


44  The  Patowmack  Company. 

was  not  a  model  of  tlie  steamboat  publicly  exhibited  at 
Shepherd's  Town  December  3  and  11,  1786,  but  the  ac- 
quaintance later  brought  results  interesting  to  us  in 
our  subject. 

Immediately  upon  his  return  to  Mt.  Vernon  Wash- 
ington prepared  a  report  of  his  journey  which  he  en- 
closed in  an  eloquent  letter  to  Governor  Harrison,  in 
which  he  enclosed  a  bill  for  an  act  incorporating  a  com- 
pany for  opening  the  Potomac  navigation.  The  bill 
was  also  sent  to  Thos.  Johnson  of  Maryland  accom- 
panied by  the  following  hitherto  unpublished  letter : 

"Mount  Vernon,  Oct.  15,  1784. 

"Dear  Sir,  On  a  supposition  that  you  are  now  at  Annapolis, 
the  petition  of  the  Potowmack  Company  is  enclosed  to  your 
care.  A  duplicate  has  been  forwarded  to  the  Assembly  of  this 
state;  the  fate  of  whfch  I  have  not  yet  heard,  but  entertain 
no  doubt  of  its  favorable  reception;  as  there  are  many  aus- 
picious proofs  of  liberality  and  justice  already  exhibited  in 
the  proceedings  of  the  present  session.  I  hope  the  same  spirit 
will  mark  the  proceedings  of  yours.  The  want  of  energy  in 
the  Federal  government — the  pulling  of  one  State  &  party 
of  States  against  another  &  the  commotion  amongst  the  East- 
ern people  have  sunk  our  national  character  much  below  par ; 
and  has  brought  our  politics  and  credit  to  the  brink  of  a 
precipice ;  a  step  or  two  further  must  plunge  us  into  a  Sea  of 
Troubles,  perhaps  anarchy  and  confusion.  I  trust  that  a 
proper  sense  of  justice  &  unanimity  in  those  States  which 
have  not  drunk  so  deep  of  the  cup  of  folly  may  yet  retrieve 
our  affairs.    But  no  time  is  to  be  lost  in  essaying  them. 

"I  have  written  to  no  gentlemen  in  your  Assembly  respect- 
ing the  Potowmack  business  but  yourself.  The  justice  of  the 
cause  and  your  management  of  it  will  insure  success.  With 
great  regard  and  respect  I  am  Dear  Sir,"  etc.® 

The  bill  was  passed  in  the  Virginia  Assembly  in 
October,  in  Maryland  in  November. 

*  From  original. 


The  Patowmack  Company.  45 

Of  a  mass  meeting  called  for  the  discussion  of  the 
l^roject  at  Alexandria  we  have  only  the  account  pub- 
lished in  the  Virginia  Gazette  of  December  4: 

"At  a  numerous  and  respectable  meeting  held  the  loth,  of 
last  month  at  Alexandria  by  gentlemen  of  this  state  and  Mary- 
land to  deliberate  and  consult  on  the  vast  great  political  and 
comm^ercial  object,  the  rendering  navigable  the  Potowmack 
Eiver  from  tide  water,  it  was  unanimously  resolved  that  every 
possible  effort  ought  to  be  exerted  to  render  those  waters  navi- 
gable to  their  utmost  sources.  .  .  .  This  is  perhaps  a  work  of 
more  political  than  commercial  consequence,  as  it  will  be  one 
^  of  the  grandest  chains  for  preserving  the  Federal  Union.  The 
western  world  will  have  free  access  to  us  and  we  shall  be  one 
and  the  same  people  whatever  system  of  European  politics 
may  be  adopted, ' ' 

When  Washington  went  to  Richmond  on  the  15th  of 
November  to  meet  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette  he  con- 
ferred with  many  of  the  meml)ers  of  the  Assembly  on 
the  subject  and  then  accompanied  the  Marquis  to  An- 
napolis. To  Madison  and  Joseph  Jones  he  wrote 
from  Mt.  Vernon  on  the  28th : 

* '  In  one  word,  it  should  seem  to  me,  that  if  the  public  can- 
not take  it  up  with  efficient  funds,  &  with  out  those  delays 
which  might  be  involved  by  a  limping  conduct  it  had  better  be 
placed  in  the  hands  of  a  corporate  company. ' ' 

The  bills  not  being  entirely  satisfactory  as  intro- 
duced into  the  two  state  legislatures  a  conference  was 
arranged  for  delegates  from  both  to  meet  in  Annapolis. 

The  report,  as  recorded,  is  as  follows : 

"At  a  meeting  in  the  city  of  Annapolis,  on  the  22d  day  of 
December.  1784,  of  the  commissioners  appointed  by  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Virginia  to  confer  with  persons  authorized  on 
the  part  of  the  State  of  Maryland,  upon  the  subject  of  opening 
and  improving  the  navigation  of  the  river  Potomac,  and  con- 


46  The  Patowmack  Company. 

certing  a  plan  for  opening  a  proper  road  between  the  waters 
of  the  Potomac  and  the  most  convenient  western  waters,  and  a 
committee  appointed  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Delegates  of 
IMaryland,  to  meet  the  Commissioners  of  Virginia  for  the  pur- 
pose aforesaid — were  present, 

"General  Washington  and  General  Gates  from  Virginia; 

"The  Hon.  Thomas  Stone,  Samuel  Hughes,  and  Charles 
Carroll  of  Carrollton,  Esquires,  of  the  Senate ;  and 

"John  Cadwallader,  Samuel  Chase,  John  Debutts,  George 
Digges,  Philip  Key,  Gustavus  Scott,  and  Joseph  Dashiell, 
Esquires,  of  the  House  of  Delegates. 

"General  Washington  in  the  chair;  Randolph  B.  Latimer 
appointed  Clerk. 

"The  conference  proceeded  to  take  the  subject-matters  to 
them  referred,  into  their  consideration,  and,  thereupon,  came 
to  the  following  resolutions : 

' '  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  conference,  that  the  removing 
the  obstructions  in  the  river  Potomac,  and  the  making  the 
same  capable  of  navigation  from  tide  water  as  far  up  the  north 
branch  of  the  said  river  as  may  be  convenient  and  practicable, 
will  increase  the  commerce  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia 
and  State  of  Maryland,  and  greatly  promote  the  political 
interests  of  the  United  States,  by  forming  a  free  and  easy 
communication  with  the  People  settled  on  the  western  waters, 
already  very  considerable  in  their  numbers,  and  rapidly  in- 
creasing from  the  mildness  of  the  climate  and  the  fertility  of 
the  soil. 

' '  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  conference,  that  the  proposal 
to  establish  a  company  for  opening  the  river  Potomac,  merits 
the  approbation  of,  and  deserves  to  be  patronized  by,  Virginia 
and  Maryland,  and  that  a  similar  law  ought  to  be  passed  by 
the  legislatures  of  the  two  governments,  to  promote  and  en- 
courage so  laudable  an  undertaking. 

' '  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  conference,  that  it  would  be 
proper  for  Virginia  and  Maryland  each  to  become  subscribers 
to  the  amount  of  fifty  shares,  and  that  such  subscription  would 
evince  to  the  public  the  opinion  of  the  legislatures  of  the  prac- 
ticability and  great  utility  of  the  plan,  and  that  the  example 


The  Patowmach  Company.  47 

would  encourage  individuals  to  embark  in  the  measure,  give 
vigor  and  security  to  so  important  an  undertaking,  and  be 
a  substantial  proof  to  our  brethren  of  the  Western  Territory, 
of  our  disposition  to  connect  ourselves  with  them  by  the 
strongest  bonds  of  friendship  and  mutual  interest. 

"That  is  the  opinion  of  this  conference,  that  an  act  of 
Assembly  of  Virginia  'For  opening  and  extending  the  navi- 
gation of  the  river  Potomac  from  Fort  Cumberland  to  tide 
water, '  ought  to  be  repealed. 

"That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  conference,  from  the  best 
information  they  have  obtained,  that  a  road  to  begin  about  the 
mouth  of  Stony  River  may  be  carried  in  about  twenty  or 
twenty-two  miles  to  the  Dunker  Bottom  on  Cheat  river;  from 
whence,  this  conference  are  of  opinion,  that  batteaux  naviga- 
tion may  be  made,  though,  perhaps,  at  considerable  expense. 
That  if  such  navigation  cannot  be  effected,  by  continuing  the 
road  about  twenty  miles  farther,  it  would  intersect  the  Monon- 
gahela,  where  the  navigation  is  good  and  has  been  long 
practised. 

' '  That  a  road  from  Fort  Cumberland  to  Turkey  Foot  would 
be  about  thirty-three  miles,  from  w^hence  an  improvement  of 
the  Youghiogeny  river  would  be  necessary,  though  probably 
it  might  be  done  at  less  expense  than  the  navigation  of  the 
Cheat  river  could  be  rendered  convenient  from  the  Dunker 
Bottom. 

"That  it  is  a  general  opinion,  that  the  navigation  on  Po- 
tomac may  be  extended  to  the  most  convenient  point  below, 
or  even  above  the  mouth  of  Stony  river,  from  whence  to  set 
off  a  road  to  Cheat  river ;  and  this  conference  is  satisfied  that 
that  road,  from  the  nature  of  the  country  through  which  it 
may  pass,  wholly  through  Virginia  and  INIarjdand,  will  be 
much  better  than  a  road  can  be  made  at  any  reasonable  ex- 
pense from  Fort  Cumberland  to  the  Youghiogeny,  which  must 
be  carried  partly  through  Pennsylvania. 

' '  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  conference,  that,  if  the  navi- 
gation on  Potomac  should  be  carried  to  about  the  mouth  of 
Stony  river,  a  communication  with  the  western  waters,  through 
a  road  from  thence,  extended  even  to  jMonongalia,  would  be 
preferable  in  most  points  of  view  to  that  by  a  road  from  Fort 


48  The  Patowmack  Company. 

Cumberland  to  Turkey  Foot,  the  only  other  way  practicable, 
and  in  any  great  degree  useful ;  that  the  communication  by  a 
road  from  Fort  Cumberland  to  the  present  navigable  parts 
of  the  Youghiogeny,  and  thence  through  that  river,  though  in 
the  opinion  of  this  conference  a  second  object  only,  would 
facilitate  the  intercourse  with  a  very  respectable  number  of 
the  western  settlers,  contribute  much  to  their  convenience  and 
accommodation,  and  that  the  benefits  resulting  therefrom,  to 
these  states,  would  compensate  the  expense  of  improving  the 
road. 

' '  The  conference  therefore,  recommends  that  the  Legislatures 
of  Virginia  and  Maryland  appoint  skilful  persons  to  view  and 
accurately  examine  and  survey  Potomac,  from  Fort  Cumber- 
land to  the  mouth  of  Stony  river,  and  the  Cheat,  from  about 
the  Dunker  Bottom  to  the  present  navigable  part  thereof,  and 
if  they  judge  the  navigation  can  be  extended  to  a  convenient 
distance  above  Fort  Cumberland,  that  they  may  from  thence 
survey,  lay  off,  and  mark,  a  road  to  the  Cheat  river,  or  continue 
the  same  to  the  navigation,  as  they  may  think  will  most  effectu- 
ally establish  the  communication  between  the  said  eastern  and 
western  waters.  And  that  the  said  road  be  cut  and  cleared, 
not  less  than  eighty  feet,  and  properly  improved  and  main- 
tained in  repair,  not  less  than  forty  nor  more  than  fifty  feet 
wide,  at  the  joint  expense  of  both  States;  and  your  conferees 
beg  leave  to  recommend  that  each  State  appropriate  three 
thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty  three  and  one  third  dollars 
for  the  purpose;  and  this  conference  are  further  of  opinion, 
that  the  States  of  Virginia  and  Maryland  request  permission 
of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  to  lay  out  and  improve  a  road 
through  such  part  of  that  State  as  may  be  necessary,  in  the 
best  and  most  proper  direction  from  Fort  Cumberland  to  the 
navigable  part  of  the  Youghiogeny;  and,  on  such  permission 
being  obtained,  that  proper  persons  be  appointed  to  survey, 
mark,  clear,  and  improve,  such  road,  at  the  equal  expense  of 
Virginia  and  Maryland. 

"Which  are  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  the  Legisla- 
tures of  Virginia  and  Maryland. 

"By  order,"' 

'  From  original. 


The  Patoivmack  Company.  49 

To  Madison  General  Washington  immediately  wrote 
this  report : 

"Annapolis.  28  Dec.  1784. 
''Dear  Sir; 

''I  have  been  favored  with  your  letter  of  the  11th.  The 
proceedings  of  the  Conference  and  the  Act  and  the  Eesolution 
of  the  Legislature  consequent  thereupon  (herewith  trans- 
mitted to  the  Assembly),  are  so  full  and  explanatory  of  the 
motive  which  governed  in  the  business,  that  it  is  scarce  neces- 
sary for  me  to  say  anything  in  addition  to  them,  except  that 
this  State  seems  highly  impressed  with  the  importance  of  the 
object  which  we  have  had  under  consideration,  and  are  de- 
sirous of  seeing  accomplished. 

"We  have  reduced  most  of  the  Tolls  from  what  they  were 
in  the  first  Bill,  and  have  added  something  to  a  few  others — 
upon  the  whole  we  have  made  them  as  low  as  we  conceived 
from  the  best  information  before  us,  and  such  estimates  as 
we  had  means  to  calculate  upon  as  they  can  be  fixed  without 
hazarding  the  plan  altogether. — We  made  the  Value  of  the 
Commodity  the  governing  principle  in  the  establishment  of 
the  Tolls; — but  having  had  an  eye  to  some  bulky  articles  of 
produce,  &  to  the  encouragement  of  the  growth  and  manufac- 
ture of  some  others,  as  much  as  to  prevent  a  tedious  enumera- 
tion of  the  different  species  of  all,  we  departed  from  the  gen- 
eral rule  in  many  instances. — The  rates  of  the  tollage  as  now 
fixed,  may  still  appear  high  to  some  of  the  Southern  gentle- 
men when  they  compare  them  with  those  on  James  Eiver,  but 
as  there  is  no  comparison  in  the  expense  &  risk  of  the  two 
undertakings,  so  neither  ought  there  to  be  in  the  Tolls. 

"I  am  fully  persuaded  that  the  gentlemen  who  were  ap- 
pointed and  who  have  had  this  matter  under  consideration 
were  actuated  by  no  other  motives  than  to  hit  (if  they  could 
do  so)  upon  such  a  happy  medium  as  would  not  be  burthen- 
some  to  individuals  or  give  jealousy  to  the  people  on  one 
hand,  nor  discouragement  to  adventurers  on  the  other. — To 
secure  success  and  to  give  vigor  to  the  undertaking,  it  was 
judged  advisable  for  each  State  to  contribute  (upon  the 
terms  of  private  subscribers)  to  the  expense  of  it,  especially 

5 


50  The  Patowmack  Company. 

as  it  might  have  a  happy  influence  on  the  minds  of  the  West- 
ern Settlers,  and  it  may  be  observed  here,  that  only  part  of 
this  money  can  be  called  for  immediately,  provided  the  work 
goes  on — And  afterwards  only  in  the  proportion  of  its 
progress. 

' '  Though  there  is  no  obligation  upon  the  State  to  adopt  this 
(if  it  is  inconvenient,  or  repugnant  to  their  wishes)  yet  I 
should  be  highly  pleased  to  hear  that  they  had  done  so. —  (Our 
advantages  will  most  assuredly  be  equal  to  those  of  Maryland, 
and  our  public  spirit  ought  not  in  my  opinion  to  be  less) — as 
also  the  resolutions  respecting  the  roads  of  communication, 
both  of  which  tho'  they  look  in  some  degree  to  different  objects, 
are  both  very  important — that  of  the  Yohiogany  (thro'  Penn- 
sylvania) is  particularly  so  for  the  Furs  and  Peltry  of  the 
Lakes,  because  it  is  the  most  direct  rout  by  which  they  can 
be  transported; — whilst  it  is  exceedingly  convenient  to  the 
people  who  inhabit  the  Ohio,  (or  Allegany)  above  Fort  Pitt, 
the  lower  part  of  the  Monongahela  and  all  the  Yohiogany. 

"Matters  might  perhaps  have  been  better  digested  if  more 
time  had  been  taken,  but  the  fear  of  not  getting  the  report  to 
Richmond  before  the  Assembly  would  have  risen,  occasioned 
more  hurry  than  accuracy — or  even  real  despatch — But  to 
alter  the  Act  now,  further  than  to  accommodate  it  to  circum- 
stances when  it  is  essential,  or  to  remedy  an  obvious  error,  if 
any  should  be  discovered,  will  not  do.  The  bill  passed  this 
Assembly  with  only  nine  dissenting  voices  and  got  thro'  both 
Houses  in  a  day — so  earnest  were  the  members  of  getting  it 
to  you  in  time. 

"It  is  now^  near  12  at  night,  and  I  am  writing  with  an 
Aching  head,  having  been  constantly  employed  in  this  business 
since  the  22nd.  without  assistance  from  my  colleagues,  Gen. 
Gates  having  been  sick  the  whole  time  &  Colo.  Blackburn  not 
attending. 

"But  for  this  I  would  be  more  explicit. 

"I  am  with  great  esteem  &  regard  Dear  Sir, 
"  Yr.  Most  Obt.  Ser't. 

"Geo.  Washington. 


The  Patowmack  Company.  5^ 

^'I  am  ashamed  to  send  such  a  letter  but  cannot  give  you 
a  fairer  one,  G.  W. 
*'Jas.  Madison,  Esqr.  "^ 

The  articles  of  the  compact  between  the  states, 
known  as  ''the  Mount  Vernon,"  were  drawn  up  and 
duly  forwarded  to  the  respective  legislatures  at  the 
fall  sessions  of  1785.     The  sixth  article  reads : 

''The  river  Potomac  shall  be  considered  as  a  common  high- 
way for  the  purposes  of  navigation  and  commerce  to  the 
citizens  of  A^irginia  and  Maryland,  and  of  the  United  States 
and  to  all  other  persons  in  amity  with  the  said  states  trading 
to  or  from  Virginia  or  Maryland. 

' '  Seventh ; — The  citizens  of  each  state  respectively  shall 
have  full  property  in  the  shores  of  the  Potomac  rive  adjoining 
their  lands." 

The  compact  was  approved  by  both  legislatures  with 
the  farther  stipulation  introduced  by  Thomas  Stone  in 
the  Maryland  senate : 

"That  joint  application  be  made  to  Congress  for  consent  to 
form  a  compact  for  the  purpose  of  affording  in  and  in  just 
proportion  naval  protection  to  Chesapeake  Bay  and  Potomac 
river  which  may  be  left  unprovided  for  by  Congress; — That 
currencies  should  be  regulated; — That  duties  and  imposts 
should  be  the  same  in  both  states ;  That  commissioners  should 
be  annually  appointed  to  regulate  commerce ; — That  Delaware 
and  Pennsylvania  should  be  notified  and  requested  to  join 
with  Virginia  and  Maryland. ' ' 

The  amendment  was  sent  to  Virginia  and  ratified. 

This  compact  between  Virginia  and  Maryland  in  the 
interest  of  the  Potomac  improvement  is  another  polit- 
ical incident  in  the  history  of  the  development  of  this 
route  to  the  west  and  as  before  stated  has  been  con- 
sidered by  Madison  and  other  statesmen  as  the  initial 

*  From  Madison  MSS.  in  the  Library  of  Congress. 


$2  The  Patowmack  Company. 

step  toward  calling  the  national  convention  in  1787 
which  framed  our  constitution. 

Meanwhile  Washington  with  unwonted  enthusiasm 
was  writing  to  absent  friends  and  wielding  all  of  his 
great  influence  to  secure  support  for  the  "adventure," 
as  such  undertakings  were  appropriately  called.  To 
Eichard  Henry  Lee,  then  president  of  Congress,  he 
wrote  December  14 : 

' '  The  Assemblies  of  Virginia  and  ^Maryland  have  now  under 
consideration  the  extension  of  the  inland  navigation  of  the 
Rivers  Potowmae  and  James,  and  opening  a  communication 
between  them  and  the  western  waters.  They  seem  fully  im- 
pressed with  the  political  as  well  as  the  commercial  advan- 
tages, which  would  result  from  the  accomplishment  of  these 
great  objects;  and  I  hope  will  embrace  the  present  moment 
to  put  them  in  a  train  for  execution.  Would  it  not  at  the 
same  time  be  worthy  of  the  wisdom  and  attention  of  Congress 
to  have  the  western  waters  well  explored,  the  navigation  of 
them  fully  ascertained,  accurately  laid  down,  and  a  complete 
and  perfect  map  made  of  the  country;  as  least  as  far  west- 
wardly  as  the  ]\Iiamies,  running  into  the  Ohio  and  Lake  Erie, 
and  to  see  how  the  waters  of  these  communicate  with  the  river 
St.  Joseph,  which  empties  into  the  Lake  ^Michigan,  and  with 
the  Wabash?  For  I  cannot  forbear  observing  that  the  Miami 
village,  in  Hutehin's  map,  if  it  and  the  waters  are  laid  down 
with  accuracy,  points  to  a  very  important  point  for  the  Union. 
The  expense  attending  such  an  undertaking  could  not  be  great ; 
the  advantages  would  be  unbounded ;  for  sure  I  am,  nature  has 
made  such  a  display  of  her  bounties  in  those  regions,  that 
the  more  the  country  is  explored,  the  more  it  will  rise  in  esti- 
mation, consequently  the  greater  will  be  the  revenue  to  the 
Union. ' ' 

Again,  February  8,  1785 : 

' '  Since  my  last  I  have  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  favors 
of  the  26th  of  December  and  16th  of  January.  I  have  now  the 
pleasure  to  inform  you  that  the  Assemblies  of  Virginia  and 


The  Patowmack  Company.  53 

Maryland  have  enacted  laws,  of  which  the  inclosed  is  a  copy. 
They  are  exactly  similar  in  both  States.  At  the  same  time 
and  at  the  joint  and  equal  expense  of  the  two  governments, 
the  sum  of  6666.66  is  voted  for  opening  and  keeping  in  repair 
a  road  from  the  highest  practicable  navigation  of  this  river 
to  that  of  the  river  Cheat,  or  Monongahela,  as  commissioners, 
who  are  appointed  to  survey  and  lay  out  the  same,  shall  find 
most  convenient  and  beneficial  to  the  western  settlers;  and 
they  have  concurred  in  an  application  to  the  state  of  Pennsyl- 
vania for  permission  to  open  another  road  from  Fort  Cumber- 
land to  the  Youghiogheny,  at  the  Three  Forks,  or  Turkey 
Foot." 

With  the  final  action  of  the  Virginia  Assembly  on 
the  5th  of  January,  1785,  the  Patowmack  Company  was 
formally  launched,  subscription  books  were  opened  at 
Richmond,  Alexandria  and  Winchester  in  Virginia, 
and  at  Annapolis,  Frederick  and  Georgetown  in  Mary- 
land, to  be  closed  by  the  tenth  of  May. 

In  the  Maryland  Gazette  of  February  appeared  this 
advertisement : 

''PATOWMACK   CANAL! 

' '  By  Virtue  of  an  act  of  the  last  General  Assembly  of  j\Iary- 
land  entitled  'An  Act  for  establishing  a  company  for  opening 
and  extending  the  Navigation  of  the  River  Patowmack'  notice 
is  hereby  given  that  the  laudable  subscriptions  so  essentially 
necessary  to  accomplish  a  work  fraught  with  such  universal 
advantages  is  now  opened  at  Annapolis  where  it  will  so  con- 
tinue until  the  10th  of  May  next  in  the  hands  of 

"Christopher  Richmond,  John  Davidson." 

In  January  Madison,  whose  assistance  had  been  so 
valuable,  wrote  to  Jefferson,  whose  interest  we  per- 
ceive by  his  letters  was  also  most  lively. 

"  Shortly  after  his  (Washington  with  Lafayette)  departure, 
a  joint  memorial  from  a  number  of  citizens  of  Virginia  and 


^ 


/ 


54  T^i^  Patowmack  Company. 

Maryland,  interested  in  the  Potomac,  was  presented  to  the 
Assembly,  stating  the  practicability  and  importance  of  the 
work,  and  praying  for  an  act  of  incorporation,  and  grant  of 
perpetual  toll  to  the  undertaking  of  it.  A  bill  had  been  pre- 
pared at  the  same  meeting  which  produced  the  memorial,  and 
was  transmitted  to  Richmond  at  the  same  time.  A  like  me- 
morial and  bill  went  to  Annapolis,  where  the  Legislature  of 
]\Iaryland  was  sitting. 

"The  Assembly  here  lent  a  ready  ear  to  the  project;  but  a 
difficulty  arose  from  the  height  of  the  tolls  proposed,  the 
danger  of  destroying  the  uniformity  essential  in  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  two  States  by  altering  them,  and  the  scarcity  of 
time  for  negotiating  with  IMaryland  a  bill  satisfactory  to  both 
States.  Short  as  the  time  was,  however,  the  attempt  was  de- 
cided on,  and  the  negotiation  committed  to  General  Washing- 
ton himself.  General  Gates,  who  happened  to  be  in  the  way, 
and  Col.  Blackburn,  were  associated  with  him.  The  latter  did 
not  act;  the  two  former  pushed  immediately  to  Annapolis, 
where  the  sickness  of  General  Gates  threw  the  whole  agency 
on  General  Washington.  By  his  exertions,  in  concert  with 
Committees  of  the  two  branches  of  the  Legislature,  an  amend- 
ment of  the  plan  was  digested  in  a  few  days,  passed  through 
both  Houses  in  one  day,  with  nine  dissenting  voices  only,  and 
dispatched  for  Richmond,  Avhere  it  arrived  just  in  time  for 
the  close  of  the  Session.  A  corresponding  Act  was  imme- 
diately introduced,  and  passed  without  opposition. 

"The  Scheme  declares  that  the  subscribers  shall  be  an  in- 
corporated body;  that  there  shall  be  500  shares,  amounting 
to  about  220,000  dollars,  of  which  the  States  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland  are  each  to  take  50  shares;  that  the  tolls  shall  be 
collected  in  three  portions,  at  the  three  principal  falls,  and 
with  the  works  vest  as  real  estate  in  the  members  of  the  Com- 
pany ;  and  that  the  works  shall  be  begun  within  one  year  and 
finished  within  ten  years,  under  the  penalty  of  entire  for- 
feiture. 

"In  addition  to  these  acts,  joint  resolutions  have  passed  the 
Legislatures  of  Virginia  and  Maryland  for  clearing  a  road 
from  the  head  of  Potomac  navigation  to  Cheat  river,  or  if  neces- 


The  Patozcrnack  Company.  55 

sary  to  ]\Ionongalia,  and  3.333  1/3  dollars  are  voted  for  the 
work  bj'  each  State.  Pennsylvania  is  also  to  be  applied  to  by 
the  Governors  of  the  two  States  for  leave  to  clear  a  road 
through  her  jurisdiction,  if  it  should  be  found  necessary,  from 
Potomac  to  Yohogania;  to  which  the  Assembly  here  have 
added  a  proposition  to  unite  with  Maryland  in  representing 
to  Pennsylvania  the  advantages  which  will  accrue  on  a  part 
of  her  citizens  from  opening  the  proposed  communication  with 
the  sea,  and  the  reasonableness  of  her  securing  to  those  who 
are  to  be  at  the  expense  the  use  of  her  waters  as  a  thorough- 
fare to  and  from  the  Country  beyond  her  limits,  free  from 
all  imposts  and  restrictions  Avhatever,  and  as  a  channel  of 
trade  with  her  citizens,  free  from  greater  imposts  than  may 
be  levied  on  any  other  channel  of  importation.  This  resolu- 
tion did  not  pass  till  it  was  too  late  to  refer  it  to  General 
Washington's  negociations  with  Maryland.  It  now  makes  a 
part  of  the  task  alloted  to  the  Commissioners  who  are  to  settle 
with  Maryland  the  jurisdiction  and  navigation  of  Potomac, 
below  tide  water.  By  another  Resolution  of  this  State,  per- 
sons are  to  be  forthwith  appointed  by  the  Executive  to  survey 
the  upper  parts  of  James  river,  the  country  through  which  a 
road  must  pass  to  the  navigable  waters  of  the  New  River,  and 
these  waters  down  to  the  Ohio.  I  am  told  by  a  member  of  the 
Assembly,  who  seems  well  acquainted  both  with  the  inter- 
mediate ground  and  with  the  western  waters  in  question,  that 
a  road  of  25  or  30  miles  in  length  will  link  these  waters  with 
James  River,  and  will  strike  a  branch  of  the  former  which 
yields  a  fine  navigation,  and  falls  into  the  main  stream  of  the 
Kenhawa  below  the  obstructions  lying  in  this  river  down  to 
the  Ohio.  If  these  be  facts  James  River  will  have  a  great 
superiority  over  Potomac,  the  road  from  which  to  Cheat  river 
is,  indeed,  computed  by  General  AVashington  at  20  miles  only, 
but  he  thinks  the  expence  of  making  the  latter  navigable  will 
require  a  continuation  of  the  road  to  Monongalia,  which  will 
lengthen  it  to  forty  miles.  The  road  to  Yohogania  is  com- 
puted by  the  General  at  30  miles. ' ' 

' '  The  Treasurer  is  by  this  act  directed  to  subscribe  50  shares 


56  The  Patowmack  Company. 

in  the  Potomac  and  100  shares  in  the  James  River  companies, 
which  shall  vest  in  General  Washington  and  his  heirs.     This 

J  mode  of  adding  some  substantial  to  the  many  rewards  bestowed 
on  him  was  deemed  least  injurious  to  his  delicacy,  as  well  as 
least  dangerous  as  a  precedent.  It  was  submitted  in  place  of  a 
direct  pension,  urged  on  the  House  by  the  indiscreet  zeal  of 
some  of  his  friends.  Though  it  will  not  be  an  equivalent  succor 
in  all  respects,  it  will  save  the  General  from  subscriptions 
which  would  have  oppressed  his  finances;  and  if  the  schemes 
be  executed  within  the  period  fixed,  may  yield  a  revenue  for 
some  years  befo-re  the  term  of  his.  At  all  events,  it  will  demon- 
strate the  grateful  wishes  of  his  country,  and  will  promote  the 
.     object  which  he  has  so  much  at  heart.     The  earnestness  with 

"^  w^hich  he  espouses  the  undertaking  is  hardly  to  be  described, 
and  shews  that  a  mind  like  his,  capable  of  great  views,  cannot 
bear  a  vacancy;  and  surelyhe  could  not  have  chosen  an  occu- 
pation more  worthy  of  succeeding  to  that  of  establishing  the 
political  rights  of  his  Country  than  the  patronage  of  works 
for  the  extensive  and  lasting  improvement  of  its  natural  ad- 
vantages ;  works  which  will  double  the  value  of  half  the  lands 
within  the  Commonwealth,  will  extend  its  commerce,  link  with 
its  interests  those  of  the  Western  States,  and  lessen  the  emi- 
\^  gration  of  its  citizens  by  enhancing  the  profitableness  of 
situations  which  they  now  desert  in  search  of  better." 


At  an  early  hour  on  the  17tli  of  May,  1785,  an  unu- 
sual number  of  the  gentry  of  Virginia  and  Maryland 
met  in  Alexandria  to  organize  the  much  heralded  com- 
pany for  improving  the  navigation  of  the  Potomac. 
After  a  mid-day  banquet  they  were  called  to  order  in 
the  assembly  room,  so  often  the  scene  of  festivity,  by 
His  Excellency  General  Washington.  In  brief  intro- 
ductory remarks  he  expressed  his  pleasure  in  meeting 
so  large  and  representative  a  company,  referred  to  the 
magnitude  of  the  proposed  enterprise — its  political  as 
well  as  commercial  significance — and  assured  his  audi- 


The  Fatowmack  Company.  57 

tors  of  the  certainty  of  ultimate  reimbursement  to  the 
subscribers.  Eesponses  followed  in  the  same  confident 
strain  and  the  meeting  proceeded  to  the  business  of 
organization. 

The  minutes  of  the  meeting  as  transcribed  by  John 
Potts,  Jr.,  are  among  the  Gilmor  papers  in  the  collec- 
tions of  the  Maryland  Historical  Society,  who  cour- 
teously have  permitted  a  copy.  The  originals  are  not 
to  be  found. 

"Alexandria,  17th.  May,  1J85. 

"This  day  &  at  this  Town  pursuant  to  the  act  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia  for  Opening 
and  Extending  the  Navigation  of  Patowmack  River  &  pur- 
suant to  the  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Maryland  for  the  same  purpose,  there  was  a  general  meeting 
of  the  Subscribers  to  the  undertaking  who  proceeded  to  the 
Choice  of  a  Chairman  &  elected  Daniel  Carroll  Esq.  to  that 
office  &  appointed  Charles  Lee  Esq.  Clerk  of  the  Meeting. 

' '  The  Book  that  has  been  opened  for  receiving  subscriptions 
at  the  City  of  Richmond,  at  the  Towns  of  Alexandria  &  "Win- 
chester in  Virginia,  &  at  the  City  of  Annapolis,  at  George 
Town  &  Frederick  Town  in  the  State  of  Maryland  being  pro- 
duced &  examined  the  Subscriptions  therein  appeared  to  be 
as  follows — 

In  Riclimond  Book, One  hundred  Shares, 

In  Alexandria  Book, ....  One  hundred  thirty-five  Shares, 
In  Winchester  Book, ....  Thirty-one  Shares, 

In  Annapolis  Book, Seventy-three  Shares, 

In  George  Town  Book, .  .  Forty-two  Shares, 
In  Frederick  Town  Book, .Twenty-two  Shares, 

Amounting  in  all  to  Four  hundred  and  three  Shares,  which 
made  a  Capital  of  40.300£  Sterling  money. 

"On  a  Motion  made  &  seconded;  Besolved — That  the  Sub- 
scribers present  in  person  together  with  those  present  by 
Proxy  proceed  to  the  Choice  of  a  President  and  Directors  of 
the  Patowmack  Company  &  that  the  President  &  Directors 


58  The  Patowmack  Company. 

now  to  be  chosen  should  continue  in  Office  untill  the  first  Mon- 
/"    day  in  the  Month  of  August  which  shall  be  in  the  year  1786.   ^/ 

'^  Resolved — That  at  every  General  Meeting  in  taking  the 
votes  of  the  Proprietors  each  Proprietor  shall  give  in  his  vote 
or  votes  at  the  Clerk's  table  in  writing,  and  when  the  vote  or 
votes  shall  be  given  by  Proxy,  that  the  name  of  each  Con- 
stituent be  also  inserted. 

''Ordered — That  Chas.  Simms  and  Jas.  Keith  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  examine  the  deputations  to  act  &  vote  as  Proxy  &  to 
make  report  thereof  to  this  Meeting,  who  having  made  report 
accordingly — 

"Resolved — That  the  deputations  from  Thos.  Blackburn  to 
Wm.  Brown,  from  Thos.  Johnson  to  Abraham  Faw,  and  from 
Jno.  Lynn  to  Abraham  Faw,  to  act  &  vote  for  them  respec- 
tively at  this  Meeting  appearing  to  have  been  executed  before 
One  witness  only,  are  Illegal  &  insufficient  &  that  the  said 
Blackburn  Johnson  &  Lynn  be  not  admitted  to  vote  their 
respective  Proxys  aforesaid. —  " 

"The  Proprietors  present  as  well  as  such  of  the  absent  Pro- 
prietors as  are  represented  by  Proxys  having  given  in  their 
votes  in  manner  before  mentioned  for  the  choice  of  a  President 
&  four  Directors  of  the  Patowmack  Company,  &  the  said  votes 
being  duly  examined  &  accounted,  a  majority  of  votes  was  in 
favor  of  his  Excellency,  George  Washington  to  be  President 
&  in  favor  of  Thos.  Johnson,  Thos.  Sim  Lee,  James  Fitzgerald 
and  George  Gilpin  to  be  Directors  &  thereupon  his  Excellency 
George  Washington,  Thos.  Johnson,  Thos.  Sim  Lee,  James 
Fitzgerald  and  George  Gilpin  were  declared  by  the  Chairman 
to  be  elected  President  and  Directors  of  the  Patowmack 
Company. 

''Ordered — That  the  names  of  the  Proprietors  who  were 
present  in  proper  person,  &  also  of  those  who  voted  &  acted  by 
Proxy  at  this  meeting  with  the  names  of  each  Proxy  respec- 
tively be  inserted  in  the  INIinutes. ' ' 

"Present  in  proper  person — 
His  Excellency,  George  Washington 


The  Patoxvmack  Company. 


59 


Daniel  Carroll,  Robert  Peter,  Sam'l  Davidson, 

AVm.  Deakins,  junr.  Chas.  AVorthington,   Thos.  Beall  of  George, 
Henry  Townsend,     Jas.  M,  Lingan,         Benj.  Stoddert, 


Jno.  Boucher,  Bernard  0  'Neill, 

Thos.  C.  Crampline,   Geo.  Digges, 
Abraham  Faw,  Horatio  Gates, 

Edward  Beeson,        Edward  Smith, 
John  Gunnell,  Chas.  Little, 

Lund  Washington,    Wm.  Hepburn, 
Wm.  Lowry,  Benj.  Shrieve, 

Wm.  Scott,  Dan  '1  jMcPherson, 

Wm.  Hartshorne,       Geo.  Gilpin, 

Robert  Hooks, 
Joseph  Janney, 
Baldwin  Dade, 
James  Keith, 
Wm.  Lyles, 
Dennis  Ramsay, 
Chas.  Lee. 


Lionel  Bradstreet, 
Jas.  Johnston, 
Peter  Bruin, 
Joseph  Holmes, 
Roger  West, 
Henry  Lyles, 
John  Harper, 
Wm.  Brown, 
Leven  Powell, 
Wm.  Ellzey, 
Dan'l  Roberdeau, 
Benj.  Dulany, 
Alex.  Henderson, 
Jno.  Potts,  Junr. 
Richard  Conway, 


Chas.  Simms, 
Sam'l  L.  Brown, 
John  Allison, 
James  Lawreson, 
David  Stuart, 
Wm.  Herbert, 
Jno.  Fitzgerald, 

' '  Present  by  Proxy — 

Jacquelin  Ambler,  Treasurer  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Vir- 
ginia, by  His  Excellency  George  Washington, 

Richard  Harrison,  Jas.  W.  Harrison,  Thos.  Lewis,  Rob't. 
Mackey,  Henry  Ridgeley,  Wm.  Bates,  Geo.  Scott,  James 
Rumsey  by  Peter  B.  Bruin ; 

Baker  Johnson,  Geo.  Schertzell,  Thos.  Sim  Lee,  Joseph  Chap- 
line,  Philip  Thomas,  Thos.  Beatty,  Joseph  Sim,  Jno.  T. 
Amelung,  Thos.  Grant,  Thos.  Hawkins,  Patrick  L.  Smith, 
by  Abraham  Faw ; 

Alex.  White,  Philip  Pendleton,  Wm.  Drew,  IMoses  Hunter, 
Wm.  Brady, Wm.  MlcKeward,  James  Campbell,  Henry  Bedin- 
ger,  Geo.  Scott,  Geo.  Hite,  W^alter  Baker,  Abraham  Shep- 
herd, Benj.  Beisler,  Cornelius  Wyncoop  by  Horatio  Gates." 


"Resolved — That  the  writings  concerning  the  deputations 
to  vote  and  act  as  Proxj^  be  delivered  together  with  the  Sub- 
scribers voting  and  the  ^Minutes  of  this  Meeting  to  the  Presi- 
dent and  Directors  &  that  a  General  ^Meeting  of  the  Patow- 


6o  The  Patowmack  Company. 

mack  Company  be  held  at  George  Town  on  the  first  Monday  in 
August  next. 
"(Signed) 

"Chas.  Lee, 

"Clerk  of  the  Meeting." 

And  thus  the  first  incorporation  of  a  company  for 
the  improvement  of  our  inland  water  ways  was  accom- 
plished; its  successors  have  been  many  but  none  have 
ventured  into  unknown  difficulties  and  perplexities 
with  greater  courage  or  higher  motives;  their  aims 
were  to  benefit  the  remote  settler,  to  safeguard  the 
Union  and  incidentally,  to  place  a  remunerative  invest- 
ment. Washington  and  Johnson  had  been  equally  ac- 
tive in  securing  the  charters  from  their  respective 
states — Washington  never  lost  his  faith  or  interest  in 
the  project,  Johnson's  activity  seems  to  have  ceased 
when  he  became  commissioner  of  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, although  he  always  maintained  that  his  shares 
were  of  great  value.  This  new  company  was  the  lineal 
successor  of  the  powerful  old  Ohio  Company;  George 
Mason  and  others  still  treasured  the  stock  of  that  un- 
fortunate organization  and  vainly  sought  its  recogni- 
tion by  the  new.  It  will  be  noticed  that  very  few  of  the 
subscribed  shares  were  unrepresented  at  the  initial 
meeting;  among  these  were  John  Ballendine,  Gover- 
nors Paca  and  Harrison.  Such  a  subscription  list  in 
such  a  time  of  financial  stress  and  uncertainty  is  evi- 
dence of  the  great  joopular  interest  and  confidence  in 
the  ultimate  result. 

On  the  18th  General  Washington  addressed  the  fol- 
lowing note  to  Thos.  Johnson  and  Thos.  Sim  Lee: 

"Gentlemen; — At  a  meeting  of  the  Subscribers  to  the  Po- 
towmack  Navigation  held  yesterday  agreeable  to  the  Acts  of 
Assembly  of  both   States,   a  President  and   Directors  were 


The  Patoxmnach  Company.  6i 

chosen,  the  former  I  have  accepted  of,  &  you  two  in  conjunc- 
tion with  George  Gilpin  &  John  Fitzgerald  Esqrs.  were 
appointed  Directors,  which  I  hope  will  be  agreeable  to  you. 
As  the  season  begins  to  advance  I  have  thought  necessary 
that  we  should  have  a  meeting  as  soon  as  it  can  be  with  con- 
vemence,  I  have  appointed  Monday  the  30th  Inst,  for  that 
purpose.  I  have  no  doubt  of  your  punctual  attendance  at 
that  time.  The  place  I  leave  to  you  to  fix  upon,  &  request 
your  answer  by  return  of  the  Express,  which  is  sent  on  this 
special  Business,  You'll  also  please  mention  the  Hour  you 
would  wish  to  meet  on. 

' '  I  have  the  honor  to  be  &c,  G.  Washington 
"May  19th.  '85,  Since  the  letter  which  accompanies  this 
^  was  \^ote  by  Genl.  Washington  I  have  found  a  private  •g'&ft^a^^l^g^- 
(Mr.^uff  of  this  town)  who  is  to  return  immediately  to  this 
place,  hence  to  save  expense  to  the  Company  committed  it  to 
his  care.  If  you  find  it  necessary  to  send  an  express  to  Mr. 
Lee  the  expense  shall  be  paid  at  the  meeting."^ 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  directory  there  were  many 
important  questions  to  be  decided ;  two  long  days  were 
spent  in  almost  continuous  session  in  a  private  room 
of  the  old  City  Hotel.  William  Hartsliorne,  a  promi- 
nent merchant  and  underwriter  of  Alexandria,  was  ap- 
pointed treasurer  with  an  allowance  of  3  per  cent., 
bonded  at  £10,000  sterling  with  two  securities.  John 
Potts,  Jr.,  a  member  of  a  Pennsylvania  family,  was  se- 
lected for  ''clerk  to  this  Board,  to  be  paid  21s.  sterling 
for  each  day  he  shall  attend,  beside  his  reasonable  ex- 
penses when  he  occasionally  attends  out  of  Alexandria 
and  thereby  incurs  an  extraordinary  expense."  This 
attended  to  the  gentlemen  resolved: 

"That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Board  that  it  is  the  most 
eligible  to  employ  two  sets  of  hands,  one  of  them  in  opening 
and  improving  the  navigation  from  Great  Falls  to  Payne's 
Falls  and  the  other  from  the  upper  part  of  Shenandoah  Falls 

°  From  original. 


62  The  Patowmack  Company. 

to  the  highest  place  practicable  on  the  North  Branch.  Tliat 
each  sett  consist  of  fifty  men  to  be  under  the  general  direc- 
tion of  one  skilful  person  who  shall  have  a  proper  assistant, 
as  well  as  three  overseers  with  each  party. 

"Ordered  that  the  Proprietors  of  the  said  Company  pay 
into  the  hands  of  "William  Hartshorne,  treasurer,  on  each 
share  £5  ster.  on  or  before  July  15  and  also  the  further  sum 
of  £2.  10  s  ster.  on  or  before  October  first  next." 

Books  were  directed  to  be  opened  at  Mr.  Harts- 
horne's  store  for  subscriptions  for  the  97  unsold  shares. 
(It  was  not  long  before  87  of  these  were  taken  by  three 
firms  in  Amsterdam,  Holland,  probably  induced  thereto 
by  Louis  Casanove,  their  American  agent.)  Ordered, 
advertisements  to  be  inserted  in  Philadelphia,  Balti- 
more and  Alexandria  papers  for  a  skilful  person  to 
conduct  the  work  from  Great  Falls  upward — also  for 
two  assistants  and  overseers — also  liberal  wages  with 
provisions  and  a  reasonable  quantity  of  spirits  offered 
to  not  over  one  hundred  good  hands.  Ordered, 
a  letter  to  Capt.  Abraham  Shepherd,  of  Shepherd's 
Town,  requesting  him  to  contract  for  the  building  of 
two  strong  boats  for  the  use  of  the  company,  to  be  35 
feet  long  8  wide  and  not  less  than  20  inches  deep,  in  the 
common  manner  of  the  fiats  used  at  the  ferries  on  the 
Potowmack  above  tide  water ;  also  two  other  like  boats 
to  be  contracted  for  by  Col.  Josias  Clapham.  A  gen- 
eral view  of  the  river  with  the  superintendent  was  rec- 
ommended to  be  made  after  the  general  meeting  in 
August. 

No  applicants  appearing  on  the  first  of  July  the 
meeting  was  adjourned  until  the  14th.  The  energetic 
Gilpin  undertook  to  meet  and  employ  laborers  that 
should  apply  at  Seneca  and  Shenandoah.  It  must  be 
remembered  that  the  work  to  be  done  required  imtried 
skill:  no  engineer  in  America  had  ever  seen  a  canal 


The  Patowmack  Company.  63 

lock,  few  understood  anything  of  the  mechanical  prin- 
ciples involved.  There  were  no  applicants  for  the  su- 
perintendency  on  the  14th.  After  some  deliberation  it 
was  resolved  to  proffer  the  position  to  James  Rumsey, 
the  most  skilled  mechanician  in  the  two  states,  a  man 
of  genius,  industrious  and  inventive,  his  pay  to  be  £200 
Virginia  currency  per  year  "inclusive  of  all  expenses 
he  may  incur."  Mr.  Richardson  Stewart  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  manager  at  a  salary  of  £125  Virginia 
currency.  The  second  assistant  was  not  appointed, 
but  his  selection  left  to  Mr.  Rumsey.  The  rations  for 
laborers  were  to  be:  one  pound  salt  pork,  or  one  and 
quarter  pounds  salt  beef,  or  one  and  half  fresh  beef  or 
mutton,  one  and  half  pounds  flour  or  bread  and  three 
gills  of  rum  per  day. 

After  the  general  meeting  in  Georgetown,  of  which 
there  is  no  record,  the  president  and  directors,  accom- 
panied by  a  number  of  shareholders,  started  on  a  tour 
of  inspection  of  the  river  under  the  guidance  of  Rumsey. 

"The  object  of  this  tour  (up  the  Potomac)  was  to  inspect 
minutely  the  course  of  the  Potomac  from  Georgetown  to 
Harper's  Ferry,  and  ascertain  in  w^iat  places  and  to  what 
extent  it  was  necessary  to  construct  canals  and  remove  ob- 
structions in  the  river.  The  directors  w^ent  up  by  land,  part 
of  the  distance  on  one  side  and  part  on  the  other;  but  they 
returned  from  Harper's  Ferry  to  the  head  of  Great  Falls 
above  Georgetown  in  boats ;  thus  effecting  a  thorough  exami- 
nation of  the  river. ' ' 

General  Washington  left  the  party  at  Seneca  and — 
(from  the  Diary) : 

"August  5th.  After  breakfast,  and  after  directing  Mr. 
Rumsey,  when  he  had  marked  the  way  and  set  the  laborers  at 
work,  to  meet  us  at  Harper's  Ferry,  myself  and  the  directors 
set  out  for  the  same  place  by  way  of  Frederick  Town  in  ]\Iary- 
land.    Dined  at  a  Dutchman's  two  miles  above  the  mouth  of 


64  The  Patowmack  Company. 

the  Monocacy,  and  reached  Frederick  Town  about  five  o'clock. 
Drank  tea,  supped,  and  lodged  at  Governor  Johnson's.  In  the 
evening  the  bells  rang  and  guns  were  fired;  and  a  committee 
waited  upon  me  by  order  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  town  to 
request,  that  I  would  stay  the  next  day  and  partake  of  a 
public  dinner,  which  the  town  were  desirous  of  giving  me. 
But  as  arrangements  had  been  made,  and  the  time  for  examin- 
ing Shenandoah  Falls,  previously  to  the  day  fixed  for  receiv- 
ing laborers  into  pay,  was  short,  I  found  it  most  expedient  to 
decline  the  honor.  "^° 

The  full  board  met  for  a  three  days'  session  at 
Shenandoah  Falls  on  the  8th  of  August  and  resolved: 
''That  the  President  and  all  the  directors  having  yes- 
terday viewed  and  examined  the  Shenandoah  Falls 
from  the  flat  water  above  to  that  below  were  unani- 
mously of  opinion  that  the  navigation  may  be  carried 
through  the  falls  without  a  lock  and  that  the  purposes 
of  the  incorporation  would  be  best  promoted  by  the 
speediest  removal  of  obstructions  within  the  above  de- 
scribed space."  The  following  letter  was  written  to 
Mr.  Eumsey,  transcribed  in  the  minutes  and  signed  in 
duplicate  by  General  Washington : 

''Sir, — As  you  have  attended  the  President  and  directors  in 
their  view  and  examination  of  the  river  from  the  upper  part 
of  the  Seneca  Falls  to  the  Great  Falls  and  from  the  flat  water 
a])ove  to  the  flat  water  below  the  Shenandoah  Falls  you  are 
possessed  not  only  of  their  opinion  of  the  course  in  general  to 
be  improved  and  their  idea  of  the  manner  of  effecting  the 
work  but  also  of  their  sentiments  on  many  particular  spots. — 
The  President  and  directors  have  no  doubt  could  they  per- 
sonally attend  the  work  in  its  progress  and  see  the  river  and 
those  places  in  its  different  situations,  they  might  in  many 
instances  depart  from  their  present  opinions. — The  nature  of 
the  work  and  our  situations  make  it  therefore,  necessary  to 
leave  it  in  your  discretion  to  vary  from  what  you  may  have 

"See  Ford,  "Writings  of  Washington,"  Vol.  10,  p.  487. 


The  Patowmack  Company.  65 

conceived  our  opinion  to  be  as  to  the  track  or  manner  of 
executing  the  work.  And  we  do  it  the  more  cheerfully  as 
you  seem  to  be  equally  impressed  as  ourselves  with  the  im- 
portance of  a  straight  navigation  and  the  advantages  of 
avoiding  as  far  as  well  may  be,  cross  currents.  The  oppor- 
tunity you  will  have  to  watch  the  water  at  different  heights 
and  your  industry  in  examining  more  minutely  the  different 
obstructions  will  enable  you  to  exercise  the  discretionary 
power  left  with  you  to  your  own  credit  and  satisfaction.  You 
are  already  apprised  of  our  change  of  resolution  as  to  the 
place  of  working  the  upper  party  and  the  reasons  which 
induced  that  change,  and  as  effecting  the  navigation  through 
the  Shenandoah  and  Seneca  Falls  w^ll  be  immediately  advan- 
tageous to  a  great  extent  of  country  you  are  not  to  consider 
yourself  restricted  to  the  number  of  fifty  hands  for  each 
party,  but  you  are  to  employ  as  many  as  you  have  an  oppor- 
tunity to  engage  and  you  can  work  to  advantage,  so  that  the 
work  may  be  expedited ;  but  you  must  immediately  on  exceed- 
ing one  hundred  in  the  whole  give  information  to  the  Presi- 
dent least  any  disappointment  should  happen  in  the  ready 
payment  of  the  company's  debts,  which  by  all  means  is  to  be 
avoided. 

' '  For  the  President  and  Directors 

"(signed)         G.   Washington." 


Up  to  that  time  no  public  undertaking  had  ever 
aroused  so  much  enthusiasm.  When  we  consider  the 
lean  and  impoverished  condition  of  the  gentry  after 
the  war  it  seems  almost  incredible  that  403  shares, 
amounting  to  £40,300,  should  have  been  readily  sub- 
scribed. It  is  worthy  of  note  that  John  Ballendine's 
subscription  was  one  of  the  first  received  in  the  Alex- 
andria office.  For  forty  years  the  work  of  this  com- 
pany occupied  relatively  the  same  position  in  the  atten- 
tion of  the  mechanical  world  as  the  Panama  canal  does 
in  ours — but  unfortunately  a  nation's  plethoric  purse 
6 


66  The  Patowmack  Company. 

could  not  be  called  upon  to  remedy  untoward  condi- 
tions. The  locks  constructed  at  Great  Falls  were  the 
engineering  feat  of  the  eighteenth  century  and  were 
described  in  every  scientific  publication  in  the  civilized 
world.  This  work  was  the  culmination  of  Washing- 
ton's hope  for  national  expansion,  for  prosperity,  for 
national  unity  and  in  its  future  he  never  lost  his  faith. 
To  those  of  us  who  have  considered  this  great  and  good 
man  as  an  abstraction,  a  merely  practical  man  of  good 
hard  sense  and  moral  rectitude,  the  story  of  his  con- 
nection with  this  enterprise  will  be  a  surprise,  reveal- 
ing him  as  a  man  of  vivid  imagination  and  unbounded 
enthusiasm;  read  this  letter  written  to  Lafayette  in 
July,  1785 : 

"I  wish  to  see  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  world  in  peace 
and  busily  employed  in  the  more  agreeable  amusement  of  ful- 
filing  the  first  and  great  commandment — 'Increase  and  mul- 
tiply/ as  an  encouragement  to  which  we  have  opened  the 
fertile  plains  of  the  Ohio  to  the  poor,  the  needy  and  the  op- 
pressed of  the  Earth.  Any  one  therefore  who  is  heavy  laden, 
or  who  Avants  land  to  cultivate,  may  repair  thither  and  abound, 
as  in  the  Land  of  Promise,  with  milk  and  honey,  the  ways 
are  preparing,  and  the  roads  will  be  made  easy,  thro'  the 
channels  of  Potomac  and  James  rivers. ' ' 

In  letters  addressed  to  David  Humphreys  and  others 
in  the  same  month  he  further  emphasizes  his  fear  of 
Spanish  influence  and  his  attitude  on  the  question  of 
opening  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi. 

'  *  I  may  be  singular  in  my  ideas,  but  they  are  these ;  that  to 
open  a  door  to,  and  make  easy  the  way  for  those  settlers  to 
the  westward  (who  ought  to  advance  regularly  and  com- 
pactly) before  we  make  any  stir  about  the  navigation  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  before  our  settlements  are  far  advanced 
toward  that  river  would  be  our  true  line  of  policy. ' ' 


The  PatowmacTc  Corny  any.  67 

"To  Edmund  Randolph, 

"13  August,  1785. 
"Dear  Sir, 

"...  The  great  object,  for  the  accomplishment  of  which 
I  wish  to  see  the  inland  navigation  of  the  Rivers  James  & 
Potomack  improved  &  extended,  is  to  connect  the  Western 
Territory  with  the  Atlantic  States;  all  others  with  me  are 
secondary. ' ' 

' '  To  Richard  Henry  Lee, 

"22d  August,  1785. 

"...  However  singular  the  opinion  may  be,  I  cannot 
divest  myself  of  it,  that  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi,  at 
this  time,  ought  to  be  no  object  with  us.  On  the  contrary, 
until  w^e  have  a  little  time  allow^ed  to  open  and  make  easy  the 
ways  between  the  Atlantic  States  and  the  w^estern  territory, 
the  obstruction  had  better  remain.  There  is  nothing  which 
binds  one  county  or  one  State  to  another,  but  interest.  With-  "^ 
out  this  cement  the  western  inhabitants  who  more  than  prob- 
ably will  be  composed  in  a  great  degree  of  foreigners,  can  have 
no  predilection  for  us,  and  a  commercial  connection  is  the  c<t--6<^' 
only  tie  we  can  have." 

In  the  intervals  of  attending  board  meetings  and  in- 
specting critical  points  in  the  river,  General  Washing- 
ton wrote  many  eloquent  letters  to  inflnential  public 
men  as  well  as  friends  on  the  engrossing  topic — the 
summer  and  fall  were  very  fully  employed.  Many 
guests  also  were  to  be  entertained;  Mr.  Hunter,  an 
English  traveler,  has  left  a  pleasant  account  of  his 
visit : 

"At  three  the  dinner  was  on  the  table  and  we  w^ere  shown 
by  the  General  into  another  room,  where  everything  w^as  set 
off  with  a  peculiar  taste,  and  at  the  same  time  very  neat  and 
plain.  The  General-  sent  the  bottle  about  pretty  freely  after 
dinner  and  gave  success  to  the  Navigation  of  the  Potomac  for 
his  toast,  which  he  has  very  much  at  heart,  and  when  finished 
will  I  suppose  be  the  first  river  in  the  world.    He  never  under- 


68  The  Patozcmack  Company. 

takes  anything  without  having  first  well  considered  of  it,  and 
consulted  different  people,  but  when  ever  he  has  begun  any- 
thing, no  obstacle  or  difficulty  can  come  in  his  way  but  what 
he  is  determined  to  surmount.  The  General's  character  seems 
to  be  a  prudent  but  a  very  persevering  one. 

"He  is  quite  pleased  at  the  idea  of  the  Baltimore  mer- 
chants laughing  at  him  and  saying  it  was  a  ridiculous  plan 
and  would  never  succeed.  'They  begin  now,'  says  the  Gen- 
eral, 'to  look  a  little  serious  about  the  matter,  as  they  know 
it  must  hurt  their  commerce  amazingly.'  "^^ 

The  directory  of  the  James  Elver  project  through 
Edmund  Eandolph  tendered  the  presidency  of  their 
company  to  General  Washington,  who  in  the  following 
letter  declined  the  additional  responsibility : 

"16  Sept.  1785. 
"  ...  I  feel  very  sensibly,  the  honor  and  confidence  which  has 
been  reposed  in  me  by  the  James  river  company;  and  regret 
it  will  not  be  in  my  power  to  discharge  the  duties  of  President 
of  the  Board  of  Directors,  with  that  punctuality  and  attention 
which  the  trust  requires. — Every  service  however  that  I  can 
render,  compatible  wdth  my  other  avocations,  shall  be  afforded 
with  pleasure,  and  I  am  happy  in  being  associated  in  the 
business  with  gentlemen  so  competent  to  the  purposes  of  their 
appointment — and  from  M'hat  I  have  heard  of  the  navigation, 
and  seen  of  the  Falls,  I  think  your  work  may  be  soon  and 
easily  accomplished — and  that  it  will  be  of  great  public  utility, 
as  well  as  private  emolument  to  the  subscribers  when  done ; — • 
for  the  advantage  of  both,  tlio'  I  believe  the  business  lies  in 
another  line,  I  would  earnestly  recommend  it  to  you  to  press 
the  execution  of  the  survey  between  James  river  and  the  navi- 
gable waters  of  the  Kanhawa,  and  a  proper  investigation  of 
the  latter.  It  will  be  a  source  of  great  commerce  with  the 
capitol  and  in  my  opinion  will  be  productive  of  great  political 
consequences  to  this  country; — the  business  of  a  similar 
nature,  as  it  respects  this  river,  is  at  an  entire  stand. — Mr. 

"  See  TV.  Va.  Historical  Mag.,  Vol.  1,  p.  60. 


The  PatozomacJi  Company.  69 

Massey  who  was  first  appointed  on  tlie  part  of  this  State,  hav- 
ing declined  acting ;  the  Maryland  Commissioner  knows  of  no 
other  in  his  room,  and  is  unable,  tho'  ready  to  proceed. 

"Besides  what  appears  in  the  minutes,  which  are  enclosed, 
it  is  in  contemplation  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Navi- 
gation of  this  river,  to  endeavor  to  hire  a  number  of  slaves 
next  year  as  labourers  thereon, — and  as  the  Great  Falls  are 
tremendous,  and  the  navigation  thereof,  in  whatever  manner 
it  is  attempted  will  require  much  skill  and  practical  knowl- 
edge in  the  execution ;  we  propose,  before  this  is  undertaken, 
to  invite  a  proper  person  from  Europe,  who  has  been  employed 
in  works  of  this  kind,  as  a  superintendant  of  it ;  With  respect 
to  the  other  parts  of  the  river,  tho'  what  are  called  the  Shen- 
andoah Falls  are  as  difficult  in  my  opinion  as  the  Falls  of 
James  river  at  Westham,  we  seem  to  have  confidence  enough 
in  ourselves  to  undertake  them;  and  mean  to  do  so  without 
having  recourse  to  either  canals  or  Locks. — Thro '  all  the  Falls 
and  rapids  above  the  Great  Falls,  we  mean  to  attempt  nothing  ■ 
more  than  to  open  a  strait  passage  to  avoid,  as  much  as  pos- 
sible, currents; — giving  suflReient  depth,  and  as  much  smooth- 
ness as  may  be  to  the  surface; — and  if  Rumsey's  project  fails 
(of  which  he  has  not  the  smallest  apprehension)  to  pull  the 
Boats  up  by  chains  floated  by  buoys; — the  latter,  when  Ice 
begins  to  form,  may  be  slipped  and  thereby  saved ;  whilst  the 
former  rivoted  to  rocks  at  bottom,  may  remain  during  the 
intemperate  season  undisturbed  and  without  injury, 

"Upon  an  estimate  of  the  expence  of  those  chains  and 
Buoys,  we  (that  is,  the  Directors  of  the  Potomac  navigation 
and  myself)  are  of  opinion,  without  having  an  eye  to  the 
probable  advantages  which  are  expected  to  be  derived  from 
Rumsey's  mechanical  discovery,  than  it  will  be  infinitely  less 
than  what  must  arise  from  cutting  canals,  building  Locks, 
making  track  paths,  &c.,  as  was  the  design  of  Balendine  and 
others;  and  will  have  this  advantage  over  them,  that  when 
once  done,  that  is  w^hen  the  passage  is  opened  in  a  straight 
direction  in  the  natural  bed  of  the  river,  it  is  done  as  it  w^ere 
forever,  whereas  canals  and  Locks,  beside  the  natural  decay 
of  them,  are  exposed  to  much  injury  from  lee,  drift  wood,  and 


7o  The  Patowmack  Company. 

even  the  common  freshes;  in  a  word,  are  never  safe  where 
there  are  such  sudden  inundations  and  violent  torrents,  as  the 
rivers  in  this  country  are  subject  to."    Etc. 

Johnson  and  Lee  seldom  attended  directory  meet- 
ings held  at  Alexandria  but  seem  to  have  given  their 
personal  attention  to  the  work  about  Shenandoah  and 
Seneca.  In  September  Johnson  wrote  General  Wash- 
ington from  Frederick : 

''Sv',  I  received  your  letter  of  the  10th  Inst,  five  days  after 
its  Date  and  the  next  day  had  an  Opportunity  of  showing  it 
to  Mr.  Lee  he  had  very  lately  been  to  see  Mr.  Rumsey  and  was 
Spectator  of  several  successful  Blasts. 

' '  Eumsey  had  discharged  several  disorderly  Fellows  and  had 
but  one  left  that  he  w^as  any  way  desirous  of  getting  rid  of 
he  had  then  about  seventy  hands  j\Ir.  Lee  says  the  Men  seemed 
to  work  with  Spirit  and  the  Difficulties  appear  less  in  the 
progress  of  the  Work  than  were  expected  it  seems  they  only 
want  more  Strength. 

' '  We  both  think  it  desirable  to  have  Negroes  as  well  as  pur- 
chase Servants  but  imagine  very  few  can  be  got  in  this  State 
perhaps  indeed  they  cannot  be  removed  from  hence  on  the 
Virginia  side  of  the  Great  Falls  with  propriety  we  think  your 
supply  must  be  altogether  from  Virginia  and  we  are  alto- 
gether unacquainted  with  the  common  Terms  we  both  must 
and  are  willing  to  submit  this  Point  to  yourself  and  the  other 
Gent,  as  you  are  so  much  better  informed  than  we  are  w^e  think 
their  labour  will  be  more  valuable  than  that  of  common  white 
Hirelings  As  to  the  number  there 's  no  other  check  as  we  can 
see  but  Employment  for  them  in  Winter  Your  and  the  other 
Gents  View  of  the  Great  Falls  will  have  enabled  you  to  correct 
my  Guesses  if  we  go  on  Imagine  we  might  find  Employment 
for  100  Hands  perhaps  more  Amongst  the  Servants  I  think  it 
would  be  well  to  have  four  Smiths  some  Carpenters  and  a 
Wheelwright  or  two  As  the  Season  is  fast  approaching  in 
which  we  must  resolve  whether  to  do  any  Thing  this  Winter 
or  not    I  had  determined  to  meet  you  at  Seneca  today  and  to 


The  PatowmacTc  Company.  7^ 

have  gone  with  you  to  the  Great  Falls  Tomorrow  but  last 
Night  I  reed,  a  pressing  message  to  go  to  Annapolis  I  there- 
fore gave  up  so  much  of  my  Design  as  to  seeing  the  Great  Falls 
and  a  very  rainy  Day  prevents  my  meeting  you  at  Seneca  to 
remedy  it  as  far  as  my  Situation  will  allow  though  I  would 
prefer  half  an  Hours  Conversation  on  the  Subject  to  all  I  can 
write  in  a  Day  I  have  amused  myself  with  writing  my  Ideas 
on  the  Canal  and  Locks  in  detail  and  making  Calculations  of 
the  Expence  which  indeed  surprises  me  for  its  smallness  in 
the  Amount  though  I  do  not  see  where  to  add  to  bring  it 
nearer  my  former  Conjectures  I  enclose  them  to  you  my 
intention  must  be  their  Recommendation  I  propose  to  myself 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  before  long 

''The  Butcher  who  was  to  have  supplied  Mr.  Stewarts 
party  would  not  enter  into  the  Contract  on  my  return  without 
being  ascertained  there  should  be  50  Rations  issued  I  told 
him  there  was  a  probability  of  more  instead  of  less  and  pre- 
vailed on  him  to  take  a  letter  from  me  to  Mr.  Stewart  he  set 
off  with  it  but  came  back  without  going  near  Mr.  Stewart 
or  coming  to  me  on  his  Return  I  was  unwell  and  knew  noth- 
ing of  this  Bchr.  for  a  Week  or  ten  days  afterwards. 

"I  fear  Mr.  Stewart  has  been  equally  disappointed  about 
Boats  Colo.  Clapham  has  been  ill  and  as  has  been  common 
with  us  this  Season  has  had  a  great  proportion  of  his  people 
sick  he  has  been  obliged  to  take  his  own  people  out  of  his 
Crops  for  he  could  not  hire  Hands  I  dare  say  he  is  as  much 
chagrined  at  the  Delay  as  Mr.  Stewart  for  no  Body  is  more 
friendly  to  the  Success  of  the  Work  than  he  is. ' '    Etc.^- 

Free  white  labor  of  the  time  was  unskilful  and  unre- 
liable, the  management  at  once  perceived  that  recourse 
must  be  had  to  slaves.  A  large  number  of  redemption- 
ers  or  indentured  servants  were  purchased  from  Euro- 
pean ships  landing  in  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore. 
These  were  classed  at  the  works  as  "  Eed  Boys," 
"Blue  Boys,"  etc.,  according  to  their  ships.  Irish 
servants  appear  to  have   given  the   superintendents 

"  From  original. 


72  The  Patowmack  Company. 

very  mucli  annoyance,  to  judge  from  tlie  press  of  the 
day.  In  the  Maryland  Chronicle  of  the  22d  February, 
1786,  we  find  this; 

"From  the  Alexandria  Gazette  of  the  1st.  January  we  hear 
that  several  servants  who  had  been  purchased  to  work  on  the 
Potowmack  Navigation  lately  ran  away,  but  being  soon  after 
apprehended,  were  sentenced  to  have  their  heads  &  eyebrows 
shaved,  w^hich  operation  was  immediately  executed,  and  is  to 
be  continued  every  week  during  the  time  of  their  servitude, 
or  until  their  behaviour  evinces  that  they  are  brought  to  a 
sense  of  their  duty.  This  notice,  it  is  expected,  will  suffi- 
ciently apprize  the  country  should  they  again  make  a  similar 
attempt." 

James  Eumsey  also  on  June  21,  1786,  advertises 
from  Great  Falls : 

"These  indented  Irish  servants,  Wm.  Fee  (shaved,)  James 
Nevin,  Francis  Cacy,  Arthur  Mullin,  (shaved)  Thos.  Moore, 
James  Munnay,  Hugh  Taylor,  Rob't  jMeighan,  Taylor  took  a 
variety  of  clothes  with  him,  among  them  a  super  fine  green 
cloth  coat  with  bright  buttons.  £60  reward  for  all  or  £10 
for  each. ' ' 

July  10th: 

' '  Four  more  Irish  servants  &  a  woman  belonging  to  a  neigh- 
boring planter,  claims  to  have  married  Taylor,  she  wore  a 
crimson  frieze  clothe  cloak,  a  blue  petticoat  &  a  white  furred 
hat,  (all  stolen,)  £100  reward  for  all  or  £20  for  each." 

As  in  modern  times  real  estate  values  along  the 
river  were  enhanced.  One  John  Cfannell  laid  off  a 
town  on  the  west  side  of  Seneca  on  the  river  in  Mont- 
gomery County  and  advertised  it  as  ''the  most  advan- 
tageous place  for  erecting  a  town,  for  benefit  of  the 
coming  navigation. ' ' 

On  the  18th  of  October  there  was  a  two  days'  session 
of  the  full  board  at  Great  Falls.  The  question  of  labor 
was  most  perplexing,  the  indentured  servants  were 


The  Patozamack  Company.  73 

quite  as  unreliable  as  the  hired  men;  it  was  resolved  to 
hire  negro  slaves  for  £20  Virginia  currency  per  annum 
with  comfortable  clothing  and  substantial  rations;  so 
henceforth  there  were  three  classes  of  laborers  em- 
ployed, with  the  usual  clashes  between  them.  On  the 
new  year  hands  were  working  at  Shenandoah,  Seneca 
and  Great  Falls,  at  the  last  place  building  huts  for  the 
men  and  digging  the  canal.  Rumsey  was  instructed  to 
order  as  many  boats  as  would  be  needed  for  work  in 
the  bed  of  the  river.  This  ingenious  young  man  seems 
to  have  put  aside  his  schemes  for  utilizing  steam  in 
navigation  and  to  have  devoted  all  his  energies  to  the 
service  of  his  employers — for  a  time  at  least.  He 
wrote  almost  daily  reports  to  the  treasurer,  Mr.  Harts- 
horne ;  this  will  serve  as  a  specimen : 

"Great  Falls  potowmack  July  3d  1786.  Sir  We  have  Been 
much  Imposed  upon  the  last  Two  weeks  in  the  powder  way 
(we  had  our  Blowers,  One  Run  off  the  other  Blown  up)  we 
therefore  was  Obliged  to  have  two  new  hands  put  to  Blowing 
and  there  was  much  attention  gave  to  them  least  Axedents 
should  happen  yet  they  used  the  powder  Rather  too  Extrava- 
gant, But  that  was  not  all  they  have  certainly  stolen  a  Con- 
siderable Quantity  as  we  have  not  more  by  us  than  will  last 
until  tomorrow  noon.  Our  hole  troop  is  Such  Villians  that  we 
must  for  the  future  give  the  powder  into  Charge  of  a  person 
appointed  for  that  purpose  to  measure  it  to  them  on  the 
ground  by  a  Charger. — I  hope  you  will  have  it  in  your  power 
to  send  us  powder  here  Immediately  (if  Left  at  Mr.  Shep- 
herds we  can  get  it.)  I  am  just  finishing  some  houses  at  Bath 
for  which  I  want  foure  Boxes  of  window  glass  8  by  10  if  you 
will  be  kind  enough  to  furnish  it,  and  Deliver  it  to  the  Bearer 
of  this  letter  Mr.  ]\Iordacai  Throckmorton  he  will  send  it  up 
for  me,  and  I  will  Settle  with  you  for  it,  as  well  as  all  other 
of  my  accounts,  the  next  time  I  Come  to  town,  I  am  with 
esteem  your  friend  and  serv't  James  Rumsey 

"P.  S.  please  to  send  lib  of  Salt  Petre  with  the  powder, 
we  think  we  Can  make  matches  with  it  that  will  Save  powder." 


74  The  Patowmack  Company. 

At  a  three  days'  session  at  Great  Falls  in  March, 
1786,  Kumsey  was  directed  to  give  his  personal  atten- 
tion to  the  point  where  the  largest  force  was  employed 
and  James  Smith  was  appointed  an  assistant  manager. 
A  call  was  made  for  10£  ster.  on  each  share. 

''And  upon  a  view  and  examination  of  the  different 
tracks  proposed  to  carry  the  canal  in,  it  was  unani- 
mously determined  that  the  one  last  examined  between 
the  river  and  the  Falls  Island  is  the  most  eligible  and 
that  it  be  taken  in  that  course. ' ' 

In  August  the  general  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of 
the  Potowmack  Company  was  held  in  Alexandria  and 
was  very  largely  attended.  General  Washington  read 
the  first  annual  report  of  the  president  and  directors, 
which  autograph  report  has  been  preserved  and  is 
herewith  represented. 

"Annual  Report,  August,  1786. 

' '  The  President  and  directors  of  the  Potomac  Company  beg 
leave  to  report  that  they  have  called  for  four  dividends  on  the 
several  subscriptions  as  follows;  the  first  of  5%,  the  sec- 
ond of  2%,  the  third  of  10%,  the  fourth  of  10%.  Amounting 
in  the  whole  to  Twelve  thousand,  four  hundred  and  thirty 
pounds  sterling,  of  which  there  has  been  paid,  five  thousand 
nine  hundred  &  forty  pounds  sterling.  The  several  expendi- 
tures will  appear  by  the  Treasurer's  account,  who  has  in  hand 
one  thousand  six  hundred  thirty  six  pounds  13s  2.  Virginia 
Currency  equal  to  One  thousand  Two  hundred  Twenty  seven 
pounds  10s  2  sterling. — 

"AVith  respect  to  the  business  we  beg  leave  to  refer  to  the 
Secretary's  Books  which  contain  all  our  orders  relating 
thereto. 

"In  consequence  of  these  orders  the  "Work  has  been  carryed 
on  at  the  Seneca  and  Shenandoah  Falls  while  the  waters  were 
low  enough  to  admit  of  it.  After  the  river  rose  too  high,  the 
hands  were  removed  to  the  Great  Falls,  where  a  considerable 
progress  has  been  made  in  cutting  a  canal  and  the  most  of  the 


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First  Annual  Report  of  the  Patowmack  Company 
(.Original  in  rossession  ot   the  Unesapeake  and  Ohio   Canal  Co.) 


The  Patowmack  Company.  75 

men  are  still  employed  on  account  of  the  uncommon  wet 
Season. 

(Erasure  of  two  lines.) 

"We  beg  leave  to  remind  the  Subscribers  that  this  is  the 
day  appointed  by  law  for  electing  a  President  &  Directors  for 
the  ensuing  year. 

"In  behalf  of  the  Directors, 

"G.  Washington  P. 
"Alexandria,  Aug.  7th.  1786" 

The  committee  appointed  to  report  on  the  proceedings  of 
the  Directors  thus  reported ; — 

"In  obedience  to  an  order  of  the  General  meeting  of  the 
Proprietors  of  the  Potowmack  Company  at  Alexandria  Augt, 
7th  1786  we  your  committee  beg  leave  to  report  that,  we  have 
carefully  examined  the  account  of  the  President  and  Direc- 
tors and  find  the  monies  credited  for  dividends  received,  and 
charges  made  for  expenditures  and  disbursements,  to  be  fairly 
and  justly  stated.  That  we  have  perused  their  book  of  pro- 
ceedings and  orders,  from  which  it  appears  to  us,  they  have 
directed  and  managed  the  Company's  business  with  great 
attention  and  ability. 

"That  it  is  our  opinion  the  President  and  Directors  ought 
to  be  allowed  out  of  the  Company's  money  for  their  expenses 
in  going  to,  attending  and  returning  from  their  different  meet- 
ings as  follows ;  viz. — General  Washington,  thirty  four  pounds, 
ten  shillings,  Thomas  Johnson,  Esq.  thirty  pounds,  Thomas 
Sim  Lee  Esq.  twenty  two  pounds  ten  shillings,  John  Fitz- 
gerald Esq.  Thirty  four  pounds,  ten  shillings,  George  Gilpin 
Esq.  thirty  four  pounds  ten  shillings,  it  being  in  proportion 
to  the  time  each  has  attended  at  thirty  shillings,  Virginia 
currency,  per  day.  All  of  which  is  submitted  to  the  IMeeting. 
"Signed.        R.  Hooe 

John   Thomas  Boucher 
Wm.  Lyles"^^ 

"From  the  Virginia  Journal  and  Alexandria  Advertiser,  Thursday, 
Aug.  17,  1786.  "On  Monday  last,  agreeable  to  law,  a  general  meeting 
of  the  Potowmack  Company  was  held  at  Mr.  Wise's  Tavern,  when  an 


76  The  Patozcmack  Company. 

Of  these  earnest  and  interested  gentlemen  of  the  di- 
V  rectory  George  Gilpin  was  the  most  untiring.     For 

twelve  years  he  was  indefatigable  in  his  service  to  the 
company ;  the  work  at  Shenandoah,  Seneca,  Great  and 
Little  Falls  he  constantly  supervised,  even  undertaking 
the  construction  of  the  great  locks  in  the  absence  of  a 
competent  engineer.  He  familiarized  himself  with 
every  point  in  the  river  from  Cumberland  to  tide  water. 
The  journeys  to  these  widely  separated  places  were  of 
course  always  made  on  horseback. 

Probably  the  first  man  to  pay  serious  attention  to 
the  improvement  of  our  inland  water  ways  as  a  means 
of  communication  with  the  west  was  the  shrewd  and 
^  speculative  Eobert^iorris.     He  organized  a  company 

for  unitinglEe'  Schuylkill  with  the  Susquehanna  by 
means  of  a  canal  and  brought  a  number  of  consulting 
engineers  from  England  before  actually  commencing 
any  work.  One  of  these  General  Washington  enter- 
tained while  he  was  on  his  way  to  advise  with  the 
promoters  of  the  James  River  scheme  and  he  insisted 
upon  securing  his  expert  advice  in  this  letter  to  the 
other  members  of  the  board  resident  in  Alexandria.^  ^ 

account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  President  and  Directors  was  laid  befoi^ 
the  Company  and  received  with  infinite  satisfaction.  From  this  it 
appears  that  the  great  national  work  which  forms  the  object  of  the 
Company  is  prosecuted  with  an  industry  and  order  truly  characteristic 
of  the  illustrious  President  and  highly  honorable  to  the  Directors;  and 
there  is  fullest  room  to  expect  an  entire  success  of  their  undertaking. 
— -->v_  The  friends  to  American  commerce  and  American  happiness  will  no 
doubt  feel  much  pleasure  in  contemplating  the  probable  success  of  the 
work  which,  while  it  contributes  to  the  Aggrandizement  of  the  one,  will 
serve  as  a  lasting  monument  of  the  amity  and  sisterly  love  with  which 
two  states  can  concur  in  promoting  the  second.  The  Company  after 
re-electing  their  officers  for  the  last  year  and  unanimously  decreeing  a 
vote  of  thanks  to  them  for  their  past  attention,  fixed  on  George  Town 
as  the  place  of  holding  the  next  annual  meeting." 

"James  Brindley,  the  first  of  the  great  English  canal  engineers  of 
the  eighteenth  century  was  an  enthusiast  on  the  subject  of  slack  water 


The  Patowmack  Company.  77 

"Mt.  Vernon,  31st.  March,  1786. 
"To.  Col.  Gilpin  and  Fitzgerald. 
^'Gentn., 

"Yesterday  Mr,  Brindley,  in  company  with  a  ^Ir.  Harris, 
IManager  for  the  James  river  Company,  left  this  on  their  way 
to  Richmond  from  whence  Mr.  Brindley  expects  to  be  returned, 
as  far  as  Alexandria,  in  seven  days  from  the  date  hereof.  I 
have  engaged  him  to  call  upon  Colo.  Gilpin  on  his  rout  back. 
K  "Mr.  Brindley  and  Mr.  Harris  took  the  great  Falls  in  their 

way  down  and  both  approve  of  the  present  line  for  our  Canal 
— the  first  very  much.  He  conceives  that  9-lOths  of  the  ex- 
pence  of  the  one  fifth  proposed  will  be  saved  by  this  cut,  the 
work  altogether  as  secure,  and  the  entrance  into  the  river  by 
no  means  unfavorable.  He  thinks  however  that  a  good  deal 
of  attention  and  judgment  is  required  in  fixing  locks  there; 
the  height  of  which  he  observes  is  always  governed  by  the 
ground — they  frequently  run  from  four  to  eighteen  feet,  and 
sometimes  as  high  as  twenty-four.  The  nature  and  declina- 
tion of  the  ground,  according  to  him,  is  alone  to  direct — and 
where  this  will  admit  he  thinks  the  larger  the  Locks  are  made 
the  better,  because  more  convenient. 

' '  With  respect  to  this  part  of  the  business  I  feel,  and  always 
have  confessed  an  entire  incompetency: — nor  do  I  conceive 
that  theoretical  knowledge  alone  is  adequate  to  the  under- 
taking. Locks,  upon  the  most  judicious  plan,  will  certainly 
be  expensive ;  and  if  not  properly  constructed  and  judiciously 
placed,  may  be  altogether  useless.  It  is  for  these  reasons 
therefore  that  I  have  frequently  suggested  (though  no  decision 
has  been  had)  the  propriety  of  employing  a  professional  man. 

"Nevertheless  whether  the  expense  of  obtaining  one  in,  and 
bringing  him  from  Europe  has  been  thought  unnecessary,  or 
too  burthensome  for  the  advantages,  which  are  to  be  expected, 
I  know  not;  but  as  it  is  said  no  person  in  this  country  has 
more  practical  knowledge  than  Mr.  Brindley,  I  submit  to  your 
consideration  the  propriety  of  engaging  him  to  take  the  Falls 

canals;  when  jocularly  asked  once  what  he  supposed  was  the  mission  of 
rivers,  or  for  what  they  were  created,  replied,  ' '  to  feed  navigable  canals 
of  course. ' '  The  Brindley  mentioned  in  the  text  was  his  son,  also  a  noted 
canal  engineer. 


78  The  Patowmack  Company. 

in  liis  \va3^  back ;  to  examine,  level  and  digest  a  plan  for  Locks 
at  that  place ;  if  it  shall  appear  good,  and  his  reasons  in  sup- 
port of  the  spots  and  sizes  conclusive  it  will  justify  the  adop- 
tion ;  if  palpably  erroneous,  there  is  no  obligation  upon  us  to 
follow  him,  and  the  expence  in  that  case  is  the  only  evil  which 
can  result  from  it — this  for  the  chance  of  a  probable  good,  I 
am  not  only  willing  but  desirous  of  encountering ;  and  if  Colo. 
Gilpin  has  not  already  made  the  trip  to  that  place  which  he 
proposed  at  our  last  visit,  and  disappointment  there,  it  would 
give  me  great  pleasure  if  it  could  be  so  timed  as  to  accompany 
Mr,  Brindley;  this  would  not  only  give  countenance  to  the 
measure,  but  aid  also,  and  might  serve  to  remove  the  little 
jealousies  which  otherwise  arise  in  the  minds  of  our  own 
managers.  Taking  ]\Ir.  Brindley  to  the  works  now  may  ulti- 
mately save  expence — at  the  same  time  having  a  plan  before 
us,  enable  us  at  all  convenient  times  to  provide  materials  for 
its  execution. 

"I  am  etc.  etc. 
"P.  S.     If  my  proposition  is  acceded  to,  it  would  be  better 
to  fix  at  once  what  Mr.  Brindley  is  to  receive,  and  I  will 
readily  subscribe  my  name  to  what  you  tw^o  gentlemen  shall 
agree  to  give  him." 

The  years  of  1785-6  were  remarkable  for  the  extra- 
ordinary amount  of  the  rainfall;  on  several  occasions 
the  great  forty-foot  rock  that  towers  above  the  flood 
at  Great  Falls  was  submerged.  Of  course  under  such 
conditions  work  in  the  bed  of  the  stream  was  impos- 
sible and  very  little  progress  was  made.  It  became 
necessary  to  ask  an  extension  of  time  from  the  legis- 
latures. So  on  the  2d  of  October,  1786,  a  petition  was 
addressed  to  the  legislatures : 

"For  an  extension  of  the  three  years'  time  allowed  for  the 
work  between  Great  Falls  and  Cumberland  to  November  1790 
or  such  other  time  as  your  Honors  shall  deem  reasonable  for 
making  and  improving  the  Navigation  between  Great  Falls 
and  Fort  Cumberland,  reciting  that  the  Company  have  en- 


The  Patowmack  Company.  79 

tered  on  the  work  Avithin  the  time  limited  &  prosecuted  the 
same  at  great  expense  with  unremitted  assiduity  with  such 
prospect  of  success  that  they  hope  and  expect  to  complete  the 
whole  navigation  within  the  ten  years  allowed,  but  that  the 
latter  part  of  the  summer  and  the  fall  of  1785  were  so  unfa- 
vorable that  the  hands  employed  in  the  bed  of  the  river  above 
the  Great  Falls  were  often  drove  from  their  work  by  rises  of 
the  waters  and  frequently  kept  out  for  several  days  together 
so  that  the  work  could  not  proceed  as  was  wished  and  expected. 
And  the  last  summer  hath  proved  so  very  rainy  that  the  water 
has  constantly  kept  up  too  high  to  permit  any  work  to  be  done 
in  the  bed  of  the  river  though  the  Company  retained  a  consid- 
erable number  of  men  in  their  service  through  the  whole  of 
the  last  winter  with  the  view  of  being  prepared  to  enter  on 
the  work  about  the  20tli.  June,  the  time  that  the  water  is  com- 
monly low  enough  for  such  purposes  and  thus  by  extraor- 
dinary exertion  to  retreive  the  unavoidable  loss  of  time  in  the 
preceding  year.  (Signed)         G.Washington." 

By  the  various  rolls  of  the  overseers  it  is  seen  that 
over  two  hundred  men  had  been  employed  during  the 
summer  of  1786. 

Mr.  James  Eumsey  had  grievances  against  Mr. 
Richardson,  assistant  manager,  and  brought  charges 
against  him  under  ten  heads :  incapacity,  want  of  truth 
and  candor,  disobedience  of  his  orders,  misrepresenta- 
tions to  the  board,  interfering  with  overseer's  men, 
telling  them  it  was  to  keep  up  his  dignity,  appointing 
improper  persons  overseers,  cruelty  to  servants,  refus- 
ing to  permit  officers  of  court  to  serve  any  process 
upon  his  men,  thus  permitting  them  to  terrorize  the 
country  people,  stirring  up  strife  against  Rumsey, 
prejudicing  neighboring  people  against  company  so 
that  wagoners  dare  not  deliver  goods  to  the  works,  etc. 
To  which  the  board  replied : 

' '  Having  heard  the  charges  .  .  .  and  the  testimony  adduced 
in  support  thereof  and  having  maturely  considered  the  same 


8o  The  Patowmack  Company. 

are  of  opinion; — 1st. — previous  to  the  first  application  they 
took  the  measures  they  thought  most  likely  to  give  them  an 
opportunity  of  employing  managers  who  had  experience  in 
works  of  the  nature  of  that  in  contemplation,  but  as  no  per- 
son ofiPerecl  who  had  practical  knowledge  in  such  business,  Mr. 
Rumsey  was  appointed  and  continued  as  principal  till  his  res- 
ignation (in  July)  in  which  event  the  Board  under  all  circum- 
stances advanced  the  present  to  the  place  of  the  late  manager 
without  any  endeavors  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Stewart  to  impress 
on  the  Board  an  idea  of  his  competency  to  the  work  and  in 
general  he  has  not  fallen  short  of  their  expectations  in  its 
progress. ' ' 

The  charges  were  taken  up  in  detail  but  not  proven. 
The  board  deplored  the  impossibility  of  securing  labor- 
ers of  good  morals. 

The  two  legislatures  promptly  acted  upon  the  peti- 
tion for  extension  of  time  and  passed  the  acts  in 
November. 

Financial  troubles  now  began  to  threaten  in  earnest. 
The  low  condition  of  national  affairs  affected  every- 
thing, capitalists  became  very  timid,  many  assessments 
were  not  paid,  the  spirit  of  enthusiasm  was  becoming 
faint.  Notices  were  sent  delinquents  in  1787  threaten- 
ing sales  of  delinquent  shares,  a  few  subscribers  re- 
sponded, but  fifty-five  were  advertised  for  public  sale 
in  Alexandria  and  Georgetown.  No  bidders  appear- 
ing, the' sales  were  twice  postponed.  Some  satisfac- 
tory arrangements  seem  to  have  been  made  with  many 
of  these  holders.  Another  assessment  of  six  per  cent. 
was  called. 

At  the  proper  date  for  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
shareholders  in  August  General  Washington  was  in 
Philadelphia  attending  the  Constitutional  Convention, 
the  meeting  was  held  at  Alexandria  in  November  when 
the  president  made  the  following  report : 


The  Patowmach  Company.  8i 

"Second  Annual  Eeport. 

"The  President  &  Directors  of  the  Potowmack  Company 
beg  leave  to  report  that  they  have  call'd  for  one  Dividend  of 
six  p.  cent  since  their  communication  of  August  7th,  1786,  of 
which  a  small  part  only,  has  been  received,  &  there  are  still 
considerable  Ballances  due  of  the  sums  previously  call'd  for, 
the  particulars  of  which  being  too  tedious  for  this  report,  will 
appear  by  reference  to  the  Books  of  the  Treasurer. 

' '  The  several  Expenditures  have  appeared  by  the  amts.  this 
day  laid  before  you  by  which  a  Ballance  of  64.  8s  is  due  the 
treasurer. 

"For  the  several  orders  in  conducting  the  Business  en- 
trusted to  our  care  we  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  the  books  of 
the  Secretary — in  consequence  of  which  the  work  has  been 
carried  on  at  the  Great  Falls  where  the  Canal  is  extended 
down  to  the  place  at  which  the  Locks  must  begin,  the  whole  of 
which  Canal  is  nearly  completed — One  of  the  most  difficult 
passes  also,  between  the  Great  Falls  &  Seneca  is  open'd  &  a 
good  Towpath  made.  The  River  continued  high  throughout 
the  summer  &  fall  of  1786  which  greatly  retarded  the  opera- 
tions intended.  A  part  of  the  Hands  were  sent  to  Seneca  in 
July  last,  &  hopes  were  entertained  from  the  report  of  I\Ir. 
Smith,  that  the  River  would  be  pass'd  by  loaded  Boats  on  the 
approaching  Spring,  but  the  bad  state  of  Health  experienced 
by  the  people  there  will  prevent  its  being  effected  as  soon  as 
was  reasonably  supposed. 

"At  Shenandoah  the  work  has  been  carried  on  at  the  most 
difficult  &  Expensive  part,  which  promises  the  success  wished 
for,  although  in  appearance  so  much  has  not  been  done  as  if 
the  Hands  had  been  employed  on  the  more  easy  parts. 

* '  It  appears  to  us  by  the  Books  of  the  Treasurer,  which  you 
have  before  you,  that  the  sums  paid  into  his  hands  since  our 
last  report  amount  to  Four  Thousand  Seven  Hundred  Eighty 
nine  Pounds  Sixteen  Shillings  &  four  pence  Sterling  which 
added  to  the  former  sum  received  makes  Ten  Thousand  Seven 
Hundred  &  tw^enty  nine  Pounds  Sixteen  shillings  &  four 
pence  Sterling  in  which  are  to  be  considered  the  Servants, 
7 


82  The  Patowmack  Company. 

Utensils  &c.  on  hand  belonging  to  the  Company  agreeable  to 
the  Lists  herewith  submitted  to  you. 

' '  In  behalf  of  the  Directors 
"Alexandria  "(signed)         G°.  Washington,  P" 

"Novr.  8th  1787" 

Acts  were  secured  from  the  legislatures  in  Novem- 
ber, 1787,  giving  a  more  speedy  remedy  against  delin- 
quent subscribers.  Work  continued  at  Shenandoah, 
Seneca  and  Great  Falls.  Of  the  board  meetings  few 
records  were  kept,  as  Mr.  Potts  had  removed  to  Phila- 
delphia for  a  time.  At  the  meeting  at  Shenandoah  in 
June,  1788,  Mr.  Hartshorne  was  requested  to  serve 
until  a  proper  person  could  be  secured  to  act  as  clerk. 
At  this  meeting  the  board  resolved  to  employ  only  one 
manager  and  Mr.  Smith  was  retained.  This  remark- 
able letter  was  addressed  to  Mr.  Kichardson : 

"We  met  today  by  appointment  to  hear  the  charges  against 
you  but  could  not  with  propriety  go  into  an  examination  of 
witnesses  in  your  absence,  which  however  to  be  regretted  we 
believe  is  involuntary.  On  a  general  view  of  the  situation  of 
the  Company's  affairs  being  of  the  opinion  that  the  present 
funds  or  prospects  wdll  not  warrant  our  continuing  two  man- 
agers we  have  come  to  the  inclosed  resolution.  It  is  with 
reluctance  we  found  ourselves  under  the  necessity  to  make  an 
arrangement  which  at  this  point  of  time  may  possibly  be 
thought  by  your  enemies  to  be  occasioned  by  the  charges 
against  you,  but  it  has  proceeded  solely  from  our  duty  and 
inclination  to  promote  the  Company's  interest  without  being 
influenced  in  any  degree  by  facts  alleged  and  not  examined 
into.  The  preference  given  to  Mr.  Smith  is  on  different  prin- 
ciples and  we  expect  cannot  surprise  you  or  hurt  your  feel- 
ings. We  request  on  the  expiration  of  your  present  year  you 
will  deliver  up  the  property  of  the  Company  under  your  care 
to  his  hands.  "(Signed)         G.  Washington,  P 

Thos.  Johnson 
T.  S.  Lee 
Geo.  Gilpin." 


The  Patowmack  Company.  83 

The  board,  "being  of  opinion  that  the  work  at  the 
Great  Falls,  Seneca  and  Shenandoah,  being  so  far  per- 
fected in  the  approaching  season  as  to  permit  the  pas- 
sage of  loaded  boats  in  favorable  seasons,  is  an  object 
highly  interesting  to  the  company  and  the  public,  rec- 
ommend the  most  vigorous  efforts  for  that  purpose, 
and  that  with  that  view  the  force  now  at  the  Seneca 
and  Great  Falls  be  employed  there  till  the  water  be  low 
in  July  and  after  leaving  a  sufficient  number  to  go  on 
with  the  work  at  those  places  that  the  rest  be  removed 
to  the  Shenandoah  and  that  the  force  be  increased  as 
the  occasion  may  require  and  opportunity  will  serve. ' ' 
The  board  allowed  Mr.  Smith,  manager,  £25  annually 
to  indemnify  him  for  expenses  he  may  incur  by  the 
visits  of  the  president  and  directors  and  strangers 
travelling  and  other  personal  expenses  to  avoid  the 
trouble  of  keeping  minute  accounts. 

General  Washington  submitted  the  annual  report  of 
1788,  but  no  record  of  the  general  meeting  has  been 

kept. 

"Third  Annual  Report 

"The  President  &  Directors  of  the  Potomack  Company  beg 
leave  to  report  that,  since  the  general  meeting  of  last  year  by 
which  they  were  instructed  to  petition  the  Legislatures  of  the 
two  States  to  pass  an  Act  obliging  the  delinquent  Subscribers 
to  pay  their  respective  quotas  in  a  more  summary  way  than 
by  the  common  course  of  Law,  they  now  have  the  pleasure 
to  inform  the  Company  that  such  Laws  have  been  obtained 
which  they  expect  will  be  competent  to  the  intention,  although 
the  good  Effects  of  them  have  not  been  as  yet  very  productive. 

"Since  the  call  of  six  p.  cent  laid  before  the  last  meeting 
we  have  been  under  the  necessity,  from  the  Delinquency  of 
the  Subscribers,  to  call  for  six  and  one  half  p.  cent  more 
which  in  the  whole  makes  40  p.  cent  on  each  share  subscribed. 

"For  the  several  orders  in  conducting  the  business  entrusted* 
to  our  care  we  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  the  Secretary's  Books. 


84  The  Patowmack  Company. 

The  unusual  height  of  the  Waters  this  Spring  &  Summer  have 
greatly  retarded  our  Operations  on  the  River  but  should  the 
Weather  become  more  favorable  we  have  reason  to  believe 
that  a  partial  though  not  a  perfect  Navigation  may  be  effected 
this  fall  &  winter  from  Fort  Cumberland  to  the  Great  Falls — 
at  which  place  the  Canal  is  nearly  completed.  Our  principal 
force  has  been  applied  to  the  Shenandoah  &  Seneca  Falls, 
which  considering  the  number  of  hands  &  the  unfavorable 
Season  are  in  as  great  forwardness  as  we  could  expect. 

"It  appears  to  us  by  the  Books  of  the  Treasurer  which  you 
have  had  before  you  that  the  sums  paid  into  his  hands  since 
last  year's  report  amount  to  £2990,  2/2  Sterling  which  added 
to  the  former  sum  received  makes  Thirteen  Thousand  Seven 
Hundred  &  Nineteen  Pounds  Eighteen  Shillings  &  Sixpence 
Sterling  in  which  are  to  be  considered  the  servants  ^  utensils 
&c.  on  hand  belonging  to  the  Company  agreeably  to  the  lists 
herewith  submitted  to  you. 

"G.  Washington  P. 
"Alexandria  4th  August 

1788" 

At  a  meeting  in  George  Town  in  September,  1789, 
Thomas  Johnson  qualified  as  president,  George  Gilpin, 
Jas.  Fitzgerald  and  Notley  Young  as  directors.  It  was 
then  ordered  that  the  subscribers  should  pay  £5  on  each 
share  on  or  before  November  15.  It  was  also  ordered 
that  the  treasurer  take  the  most  effectual  legal  meas- 
ures to  compel  a  speedy  payment  of  all  monies  remain- 
ing unpaid  on  the  several  calls  preceding  this  last 
special  call.  This  order  was  repeated  in  April  of  the 
next  year,  and  in  September  it  was  ordered  that  ten 
per  cent,  be  immediately  called  for  on  each  share  in  the 
company  and  the  same  is  ordered  to  be  paid  to  the 
treasurer  on  or  before  November,  1790.  At  the  same 
time  either  director  was  authorized  to  employ  hands  to 
work  on  the  river  between  Williamsport  and  Cumber- 
land.   In  October  the  president  and  directors  found 


The  Patowmack  Company.  85 

themselves  obliged  to  take  condemnation  proceedings 
of  land  and  water  power  at  Great  Falls,  having  been 
unable  to  make  terms  with  Henry  Lee,  owner  of  the 
land.  This  was  carried  into  effect  in  1792.  About  the 
same  time  Edward  McCarty  was  paid  £150  Maryland 
currency  for  completing  the  navigation  from  the  upper 
part  of  the  Ohio  Bottom,  or  lot  No.  5,  to  the  still  water 
below  Thos.  Dameron's  by  carrying  the  water  by  a  cut 
of  thirty  feet  wide. 

An  order  signed  by  Geo.  Gilpin,  David  Stuart  and 
Wm.  Deakins,  jr.,  directed  Messrs.  Gant  and  Fitzhugh 
to  take  proper  steps  for  the  condemnation  of  lands 
through  which  the  canal  at  Little  Falls  passes. 

An  agreement  was  made  with  Colonel  Thurston,  of 
Frederick  Co.,  Virginia,  to  commence  the  business  of 
clearing  obstacles  from  the  Shenandoah  Eiver.  This 
was  done,  it  seems,  to  comply  with  the  terms  of  an  act 
of  the  Virginia  legislature  requiring  work  to  be  com- 
menced on  the  Potomac  tributaries  at  once.  Thus  the 
Patowmack  Company  entered  upon  the  most  stormy 
period  of  its  history.  The  same  act  permitted  aliens 
to  become  stockholders  in  the  company  and  a  large 
block  of  stock  was  sold  to  merchants  in  Amsterdam  in 
Holland. 

With  an  advertisement  for  200  slaves  came  the  call 
for  another  ten  per  cent,  on  each  share,  and  the  con- 
tract was  given  for  four  locks  at  Little  Falls. 

At  the  general  annual  meeting  in  1792  the  following 
report  was  read : 

"1792,  Gentlemen,  The  president  and  directors  of  the  Poto- 
mac Company  beg  leave  to  make  the  following  report  respect- 
ing the  state  of  the  treasury  and  the  situation  and  progress  of 
the  works  on  the  various  parts  of  the  river. 

"From  the  treasurer's  books  it  appears  that  the  sum  of 
money  expended  is  £32,971  Virginia  currency;  the  sums  due 


86  The  Patowmack  Company. 

from  delinquent  subscribers  £6543 ;  cash  in  the  hands  of  the 
treasurer  amounts  to  £4775.  for  particulars  on  this  head 
you  Avill  herewith  receive  an  extract  from  the  treasurer's 
books. 

"Since  our  report  delivered  at  the  meeting  in  August  last, 
the  passage  between  the  Seneca  and  the  Great  Falls  has  been 
made  safe  and  easy  by  making  it  straight  in  many  places,  re- 
moving rocks  and  throwing  up  dams  to  collect  and  deepen 
the  water  where  ever  it  was  necessary. 

''The  navigation  at  Hook's  Fall  has  been  made  perfectly 
safe,  by  making  the  passage  straight  along  the  Virginia  shore. 
y^  "A  canal  at  the  Little  Falls  is  cut  on  the  Maryland  side  of 

the  river  nearly  the  whole  distance  necessary,  and  in  general 
to  the  full  depth,  the  stone  is  swept  out  and  a  wall  built  for 
nearly  a  mile;  the  digging  for  the  lock  seats  is  let  out  for  a 
specific  sum  and  the  work  commenced.  As  the  number  of 
hands  intended  to  be  employed  at  this  place  could  not  be 
procured  and  those  that  were  got  being  sickly  the  work  has 
not  been  carried  on  with  that  expedition  we  wished  and  in- 
tended, but  have  every  reason  to  expect  it  will  be  nearly,  if 
not  quite,  completed  this  fall  and  winter. 

"We  farther  report  that  Captain  Thomas  Beall  of  Fort 
Cumberland  has  undertaken  to  complete  the  navigation  from 
that  place  to  Gregg's  Mill  according  to  law  for  a  certain  sum. 
Mr.  Denton  Jaques  has  engaged  to  employ  hands  and  clear  a 
small  rapid  near  Fort  Frederick  called  Garrison  Falls.  Cap- 
tain Henry  is  now  employed  in  clearing  the  Shepardstown 
Falls,  all  of  which  w^  will  have  finished  with  the  greatest  dis- 
patch in  our  power. 

"We  are  gentlemen.  Your  obedient  servants. 
*  *  Signed,    John  Fitzgerald,  George  Gilpin,  Dd.  Stuart.  ' ' 

The  report  is  in  the  handwriting  of  Thos.  Johnson, 
president,  but  he  neglected  to  sign  it.  The  business- 
like tone  is  quite  different  from  any  other  of  the  annual 
reports  that  have  been  preserved. 

At  the  general  meeting  in  1793  James  Fitzgerald  was 


The  PatowmacJc  Company.  87 

elected  president,  Geo.  Gilpin,  Wm.  Deakins,  Jr.,  James 
Keith  and  Thos.  Beall  of  George,  directors.  On  ac- 
count of  excellent  work  the  pay  of  the  three  managers 
was  increased  £6  Virginia  currency  per  month.  The 
treasurer  was  ordered  to  advertise  delinquent  shares 
for  sale  "but  not  to  express  the  names  of  their  pro- 
prietors, only  the  number  of  shares  in  each  State  and 
that  he  do  by  a  special  messenger  inform  the  several 
persons  whose  shares  are  intended  for  sale."  In  this 
list  of  44  we  find  the  names  of  James  Eumsey,  Francis 
Key,  Henry  Lyles,  Warner  Washington,  two  Jenifers, 
James  Syme  and  Henry  Lee. 

The  Virginia  legislature  permitted  the  trustees  to 
lay  off  a  town  at  Great  Falls  to  be  called  Matildaville^ 
from  which  great  things  were  expected.  It  cannot  now 
be  accurately  located  but  the  name  lingered  on  Virginia 
maps  for  fifty  years.  In  1793  Lee  and  the  directory 
came  to  terms,  the  legal  proceedings  were  dismissed 
and  the  secretary  adds  ''never  again  resorted  to." 
Hartshorne  and  Potts  were  the  witnesses  of  the  trans- 
action. The  latter  erected  a  fine  forge  at  Matildaville, 
which,  with  the  sawmill  and  grist  mill,  made  quite  a 
manufacturing  center.  Beside  these  the  company  had 
erected  an  imposing  residence  for  the  superintendent 
(the  ruins  are  still  in  evidence) ;  there  were  also  store- 
houses and  boarding  houses. 

Financial  difficulties  beset  these  worthy  gentlemen, 
the  directors,  so  unaccustomed  to  the  management  of 
large  enterprises;  when  the  receipts  came  in  from  their 
urgent  calls  expenses  were  lavish,  when  these  were 
exhausted  the  works  were  idle  and  only  those  abso- 
lutely required  to  care  for  their  properties  were  re- 
tained in  service.  In  January,  1794,  they  found  them- 
selves under  the  necessity  of  appealing  to  the  banks 
for  assistance  until  further  collections  could  be  made. 


88  The  Patowmack  Company. 

Another  extension  of  two  years'  time  was  secured 
from  the  legislatures. 

One  hundred  shares  were  added  to  the  capital  stock ; 
of  these  the  state  of  Maryland  took  forty  and  indi- 
viduals sixty.  Calls  were  made  for  twelve  per  cent, 
and  £10  on  each  share  of  the  new  stock.  Work  was 
now  pushed  on  all  parts  of  the  river.  Tobias  Lear^^ 
and  John  TempleSw  became  directors.  Through 
Lear's  advice,  probably,  the  following  resolution  was 
passed: 

''That  the  president  on  behalf  of  the  Company  apply  to  the 
president  and  manager  of  the  Schuylkill  and  Susquehanna 
Canal  Company  for  their  permission  to  Mr.  Weston  to  come 
down  to  the  Great  Falls  of  the  Potomac  to  examine  the  works 
constructing  there  and  give  his  opinion  thereupon  and  that  he 
do  at  the  same  time  apply  to  Mr.  Weston  and  make  him  ac- 
quainted with  the  application  and  request  his  compliance  in 
case  he  can  be  spared." 

Which  indicates  that  Mr.  Morris  was  proceeding 
with  his  scheme,  and  the  hesitancy  with  which  the  di- 
rectory undertook  the  task  at  Great  Falls. 

Under  date  of  12  December,  1794,  President  Wash- 
ington wrote  Lear : 

"For  many  very  important  reasons  (unnecessary  to  enu- 
merate to  you)  the  navigation  of  that  river  ought  to  be  pushed 
forward  with  all  the  celerity  which  the  nature  of  the  work 
will  admit.  Viewing  the  matter  as  I  do  I  shall  not  neglect 
any  fair  opportunity  of  facilitating  a  visit  from  Mr.  Weston 
to  that  quarter,  but  (under  the  rose  I  must  say  it)  however 
fair  the  assurances  of  his  going  thither  may  be,  you  may  take 
it  for  granted  that  from  motives  of  jealousy  there  is  a  counter 
tide  to  that  measure ;  and  I  wish  you  may  not  find  something 
similar  to  it  in  another  quarter,  if  the  operations  on  the 

1' ' '  Anon.  Observations  on  the  River  Potowmaek  and  the  Country 
Contiguous,  &c,"  N.  Y.,  1793,  also  published  in  the  New  York  Magazine 
or  Literary  Eepository,  Vol.  5,  1794.     Now  known  to  have  been  written 


The  Patowmack  Company.  89 

Shenandoah  are  postponed  much  longer.  Do  not  forget  how 
the  trade  of  Fredericksburg  and  Fahnouth,  Hanover  Town 
on  York  river  and  indeed  Richmond  itself  will  be  affected  by 
the  opening  of  this  navigation.  I  shall  not  be  at  all  surprised 
therefore  if  applications  to  the  Assembly  of  Virginia  respect- 
ing it  should  meet  with  much  coldness  and  difficulty." 

In  fact  Virginians  generally  appear  to  be  gradually 
losing  interest  in  the  work,  but  Maryland  ever  stood 
loyally  ready  to  assist  by  encouragement  and  funds. 

A  month  later  Washington  wrote  that  "The  Penn- 
sylvania Canal  Company  has  granted  Mr.  Weston  per- 
mission to  visit  Great  Falls."  Again  he  wrote  in 
February : 

"Weston  was  detained  by  canal  matters;  much  has  been 
said  of  late  of  the  inclined  plane  in  Connecticut  river — of  the 
utility  of  it  I  mean.  It  would  be  well  to  question  Mr.  Weston 
pretty  fully  on  this  mode  of  raising  and  lowering  boats,  as 
the  simplicity,  cheapness  and  effect  is  the  subject  of  eulogism." 

And  in  March : 

"Presume  Weston  is  on  the  Potomac.  He  is  certainly  a 
judicious  man.  I  am  pleased  to  learn  that  the  locks  which 
have  been  erected  at  Little  Falls  have  stood  the  test  of  a  first 
trial  so  well  and  this  pleasure  will  be  increased  if  Mr.  Weston 
should  make  a  favorable  report  of  them.  "^"^ 

by  Tobias  Lear  in  the  interest  of  the  Potowmack  Company.  On  the 
2d  of  August  Washington  had  written  Lear  from  Mt.  Vernon,  "Monday 
next  being  the  day  fixed  on  by  the  constitution  of  the  Potomac  Company 
for  their  annual  meeting,  and  as  you  seem  resolved  to  relinquish  your 
present  office  as  president, — I  wish  you  would  turn  your  thoughts  atten- 
tively to  the  situation  of  it  and  revolve  seriously  on  characters  fit,  and 
proper  to  supply  the  places,  of  those  who  perhaps  ought  to,  as  well  as 
those  who  will  quit  the  directorship ;  that  our  struggles  in  that  interesting 
and  expensive  concern  the  labor  of  years  may  not  end  in  disgrace 
and  loss." 

""An  Historical  Account  of  the  Rise,  Progress  and  Present  State  of 
Canal  Navigation,"  Philadelphia,  1795.  By  order  of  the  Company, 
Robert  Morris,  President.  William  Weston  was  the  engineer  and  super- 
intendent of  the  Schuylkill  and  Susquehanna  canal;  page  68,  "Early  in 


90  The  Paioxcmack  Company. 

The  gentleman  made  his  visit  and  examination,  con- 
firmed Brindley's  advice  as  to  the  course  of  the  canal 
and  locks  and  returned  with  £370  ster.  in  pocket. 

Earh'  in  1795  twenty-four  shares  were  sold  at  Alex- 
andria and  eleven  at  Georgetown  for  fairly  good  prices, 
the  principal  purchasers  being  one  Jesse  Simms  and 
Gustavus  Scott.  At  the  general  meeting  it  was  an- 
nounced that  tolls  would  be  collected  above  Great  Falls, 
the  navigation  being  so  far  improved  as  to  justify  the 
collection.  Books  were  opened  for  one  hundred  addi- 
tional shares  in  order  to  commence  work  on  the  Shen- 
andoah Eiver.  The  state  of  Maryland  subscribed  for 
sixty,  individuals  for  the  remaining  fort}^  The  locks 
and  works  at  Little  Falls  were  reported  as  completed 
and  all  impediments  removed  between  that  place  and 
Great  Falls.  £10  ster.  was  called  on  the  new  shares. 
Eenewed  vigor  was  infused  into  the  directory  and  two 
of  them  made  a  close  inspection  of  the  river  from  Cum- 
berland down.  Workmen  were  employed  at  many 
places,  but  still  an  experienced  engineer  was  badly 
needed  at  Great  Falls  in  the  erection  of  the  large  locks. 
Lear  appealed  to  Washington  who  soon  replied : 

"November  30  1795.  If  the  directors  are  in  want  of  such 
a  character  as  the  enclosed  letter  describes,  it  may  be  well  to 
intimate  it  as  soon  as  possible  as  it  is  not  likely  Mr.  Myers 
will  remain  long  unemployed  as  lock  navigation  is  contem- 
plated in  many  parts  of  the  country.     I  have  not  seen  the 

the  month  of  January,  1793  arrived  from  London  Wm.  Weston,  Esq. 
the  engineer  engaged  by  the  company,  a  gentleman  who  had  directed 
the  execution  of  some  of  the  principal  canals  in  England,  whose  great 
abilities  activities  and  experience  in  all  the  branches  of  his  department 
have  merited  and  obtained  the  perfect  confidence  and  esteem  of  the 
managers,  and  of  whose  advice  and  assistance  which  have  been  solicitated 
and  given  as  occasion  might  permit,  will  be  of  the  utmost  importance 
towards  facilitating  improvements  of  a  similar  nature  in  the  neighbor- 
ing states." 


Old  Stoxe  at  the  Entrance  to  the  Old  Canal  Around  Little  Falls 
(Photograph  by  Miss  Violet  Bacon  Foster) 


The  Patowmack  Company.  g^ 

gentleman  myself  but  understand  from  others  that  his  testi- 
monials are  full  and  ample  &  that  he  is  a  stout  and  healthy- 
man  ...  P.  S.  I  will  send  to  &  have  a  little  conversation 
with  j\Ir.  Myers  and  give  you  the  result  in  my  next. ' ' 

December  26tli: 

"This  letter  will  be  handed  you  by  Capt.  Myers,  of  whom 
I  have  made  mention  in  a  former  letter.  Being  desirous  of 
knowing  whether  the  Directors  of  the  Potomack  Company  are 
disposed  to  employ  him  as  an  engineer  &  superintendent  of 
their  lock  navigation,  and  on  what  terms,  he  has  resolved  to 
wait  on  them  for  those  purposes.  The  testimonials  of  his  skill 
as  an  Architect,  and  of  his  knowledge  relative  to  locks,  &c. 
will  I  presume  be  presented  to  you.  These  with  such  farther 
inquiries  as  prudence  may  induce  you  to  make,  will  enable 
you  to  decide  on  your  measures  and  thereby  place  Capt. 
Myers  on  the  ground  of  Certainty." 

In  the  minutes  of  the  directors'  meeting  at  Union 
Hotel  in  Georgetown  on  the  4tli  of  January,  1796,  we 
read: 

"Capt.  Christopher  Myers  having  been  invited  by  the  Di- 
rectors to  meet  them  on  the  subject  of  engaging  as  engineer 
and  superintendant  of  the  works  to  be  executed  on  the  Poto- 
mac produced  at  this  meeting  documents  and  plans  as  evi- 
dences of  his  fitness  for  the  business  in  which  his  services 
may  be  required  upon  the  examination  and  consideration  of 
which ; — ■ 

Resolved,  that  a  stipend  of  $1600  per  year  be  offered  to 
Capt.  Myers  as  a  compensation  for  his  services,  with  this 
understanding,  that  at  the  expiration  of  the  year,  such  further 
allowance  may  be  made  to  him  as  shall  appear  to  the  directors 
adequate  to  his  services,  it  being  thought  best  to  put  it  upon 
this  footing  as  Capt.  IMyers  is  unacquainted  with  the  expense 
of  supporting  a  family  &c.  in  this  country.  .  .  .  This  having 
been  communicated  to  Capt.  J\Iyers  he  accepted  the  same." 

At  the  meeting  of  the  next  month  it  was  resolved  to 
immediately  complete  the  house  on  the  lot  belonging  to 


92  The  Patowmach  Comparii/. 

the  company  at  Great  Falls  and  to  erect  such  other 
works  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  hands  who  may  be  employed  in  the  cheapest  man- 
ner that  will  answer  the  purpose.  The  dimensions  of 
the  building  for  the  hands  to  be  72  feet  long  by  18  wide, 
7  feet  high  in  the  clear,  covered  with  plank.  Also  that 
a  quantity  of  three-inch  rope — not  less  than  two  coils — 
be  procured  and  fixed  in  the  ring  bolts  below  the  Falls 
for  the  purpose  of  hauling  boats  up  the  river.  John 
Henry  was  employed  as  clerk  for  the  company  at  a 
salary  of  $500.  There  was  still  much  trouble  in  secur- 
ing skilled  workmen.  Work  was  pushed  on  the  resi- 
dence for  the  superintendent,  which  was  of  stone  and 
brick,  two  stories,  25  feet  front,  35  in  depth.  A  second 
call  was  made  for  10  per  cent,  on  all  shares.  Again 
collections  were  difficult,  measures  were  taken  to  force 
payments,  while  $1,500  was  discounted  at  the  Bank  of 
Columbia. 

And  now  appears  upon  the  minutes  the  name  of 
Thos.  Beall,  of  Sam'l,  with  whom  there  was  much  trou- 
ble over  a  contract  to  clear  the  upper  river.  This 
worthy  gentleman  was  a  pioneer  at  Fort  Cumberland, 
a  very  prominent  man  in  western  Maryland,  who  do- 
nated ground  for  the  courthouse  and  offered  to  erect 
the  building  if  the  state  would  organize  a  new  county. 
The  present  beautiful  structure  and  the  handsome  old 
school  opposite  occupy  sites  given  by  him.  He  had 
contracted  on  the  last  day  of  1792  to  clear  the  river  of 
all  obstructions  and  to  open  canals  through  all  shoals 
from  Cumberland  to  Williamsport  within  one  year  for 
the  sum  of  £1,900  current  money  of  Maryland,  giving 
bond  for  £3,800  for  faithful  performance.  Of  course 
the  task  was  an  impossible  one,  but  he  claimed  to  have 
performed  it.  His  time  was  extended  and  in  1796  he 
was  paid  £80  in  order  to  encourage  him  to  complete 


The  PatowmacJc  Company.  93 

his  contract,  wliich  he  never  did.  Final  settlement  was 
made  in  1799,  after  his  failure  to  comply  with  the  terms 
of  two  succeeding  contracts. 

In  July,  1796,  a  market  house,  thirty  by  fourteen  feet, 
was  built  in  Matildaville.  There  was  another  call  for 
twenty  per  cent,  on  new  shares.  The  breadth  of  the 
locks  at  Great  Falls  was  extended  to  fourteen  from 
twelve  feet.  More  Irish  laborers  were  bought  in  Balti- 
more on  a  credit  of  sixty  days.  Tobias  Lear  was  in 
August  elected  president,  with  Keith,  Templeman,  Fen- 
dall  and  John  Mason  directors.  A  settlement  was  had 
with  General  Darke,  who  had  furnished  supplies  to  the 
company  from  its  organization. 

"With  the  advent  of  the  brilliant  John  Mason  into  the 
directory  renewed  energy  characterized  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  company,  which  was  composed  largely  of 
the  conservative  wealthy  class  that  we  know  as  the 
Federalist  political  party.  With  the  exception  of 
two  years  he  remained  in  the  directory  until  the  com- 
pany was  merged  into  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal 
Company  in  1828,  most  of  the  time  as  its  president, 
thus  following  the  example  of  his  father,  George  Ma- 
son, who  had  been  the  treasurer  of  the  Ohio  Company 
and  ever  refused  to  acknowledge  its  extinction. 

It  was  ordered  that  Captain  Myers,  the  engineer,  be 
allowed  $2,400  per  annum  for  this  year  and  the  next 
and  the  further  sum  of  $5,000  if  he  completes  the  locks 
at  Great  Falls  so  that  loaded  boats  can  pass  in  twelve 
months,  or  $2,500  if  in  fifteen  months,  or  in  proportion 
for  any  time  above  twelve  and  under  fifteen.  Beall 
was  paid  another  sum  of  $400  to  complete  his  contract. 
A  third  appeal  was  made  to  the  legislatures  for  a 
further  extension  of  time,  which,  as  always,  was  readily 
granted.  Myers  was  a  disagreeable  person,  and  the 
directors  had  many  unpleasant  affairs  with  him.     He 


94  The  Patowmack  Company. 

obstinately  refused  to  deliver  to  them  Ms  specifications 
and  plans  for  the  locks,  he  demanded  an  annual  stipend 
of  $4,000,  he  frequently  absented  himself  for  weeks 
from  the  works.  Finally  in  May,  1797,  this  letter  was 
addressed  him: 

"Sir,  For  certain  reasons,  which  may  be  made  known  when 
necessary,  we  consider  you  as  discharged  from  the  service  of 
the  Potowmack  Company." 
(Signed  by  the  president  and  directors.) 

There  were  in  this  year  two  more  calls  for  ten  per 
cent.  each.  Investigation  revealed  that  £11,724  had 
been  expended  in  1796  at  Great  Falls.  Eetrench- 
ment  again  became  the  order  of  the  day.  At  a  called 
meeting  of  the  stockholders  it  was  ordered  that  the 
work  for  the  present  be  confined  to  the  space  between 
the  basin  and  the  two  lower  lock  seats,  that  the  acting 
directors  take  measures  to  carry  on  the  work  on  this 
plan  in  the  most  economical  manner,  also  that  they 
have  a  platform  or  an  inclined  plane  constructed  to 
make  it  more  convenient  to  take  flour  or  other  goods 
from  the  lower  lock  seats  to  the  river.  Later  the  di- 
rectory resolved  to  engage  a  superintendent  of  excava- 
tion of  the  lower  lock  seats,  to  have  carts,  horses,  etc., 
to  transport  flour  from  the  basin  to  the  inclined  plane, 
and  for  hauling  of  sand,  etc.  Lear's  storehouse  was 
secured  for  deposit  of  such  flour  as  might  be  sent  down 
the  river  to  be  put  below  in  transit ;  resolved  to  charge 
ten  cents  per  barrel  for  storage  and  transport.  Another 
change  was  made  in  the  course  of  the  locks.  Leonard 
Harbaugh  was  employed  to  superintend  construction 
of  the  locks.  Ten  per  cent,  again  called  for  and  another 
sale  of  delinquent  stock  ordered.  A  letter  was  re- 
ceived from  Ferdinand  Fairfax,  a  godson  of  General 
Washington,  relative  to  opening  the  navigation  of  the 


The  Patowmack  Company.  95 

Shenandoah.  In  excavating  for  the  lower  locks  a 
borer's  work  was  estimated  to  be  six  feet;  in  case  he 
did  not  complete  that  amount  he  was  to  be  deprived  of 
his  daily  quota  of  whiskey. 

At  the  general  meeting  in  August,  when  308  shares 
were  represented,  it  was  resolved  to  relinquish  any  ex- 
clusive rights  the  company  held  by  acts  of  the  legisla- 
ture to  the  improvement  of  the  Shenandoah  in  favor  of 
any  local  company  that  would  be  formed  within  nine 
months  and  render  that  river  navigable  to  boats  carry- 
ing fifty  barrels  of  flour  within  three  years.  It  was 
ordered  to  sell  or  mortgage  all  the  shares  belonging  to 
the  company.  The  directory  was  authorized  to  open 
books  for  thirty  additional  shares  at  £135  ster.  Also 
to  mortgage  the  tolls  for  the  amount  of  $16,000,  all 
monies  to  be  applied  to  the  works  at  Great  Falls.  Ap- 
plication was  made  to  the  legislature  for  authority  to 
collect  tolls  at  Great  Falls  on  condition  of  delivering 
at  the  expenses  of  the  company  all  articles  subject  to 
tolls  into  boats  below  the  Falls. 

Funds  being  entirely  exhausted  all  sorts  of  projects 
were  considered  for  carrying  on  and  completing  the 
work  at  Great  Falls.  The  German  indented  servants 
were  sold,  laborers  were  discharged.  In  distress  a 
special  meeting  of  the  shareholders  was  held  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1798,  of  which  Thos.  Sim  Lee  was  chairman  and 
Benj.  Stoddart  secretary.  The  directors  were  then 
authorized  to  borrow  not  more  than  100  shares  from 
the  proprietors  to  mortgage  for  loan,  said  stock  to  be 
returned  on  or  before  August,  1800.  Washington  at- 
tended this  meeting  and  voted  his  73  shares.  The  re- 
port of  the  president  graphically  gives  the  situation: 

"Gentlemen,  Agreeably  to  the  instructions  and  power  given 
to  us  at  your  last  annual  meeting,  we  have  used  our  best 
endeavors  to  procure  funds  for  carrying  on  and  completing 


96  The  Patowmack  Company. 

the  works  of  the  Company  at  Great  Falls;  but  all  our  exer- 
tions have  been  ineffectual, — Aid  from  individuals  could  not 
be  expected  upon  any  terms  in  our  power  to  offer, — Applica- 
tion has  been  made  to  the  Assemblies  of  Virginia  and  Mary- 
land for  a  grant  of  money,  either  upon  loan,  or  to  be  vested 
in  new  shares  as  they  might  choose ;  but  without  success, 

' '  That  no  opportunity  of  pushing  on  the  works  at  the  Great 
Falls  might  be  lost,  while  the  proper  season  continued,  the 
president  and  directors  have  obtained,  on  their  notes,  for  the 
use  of  the  Potomac  Company,  from  the  Bank  of  Columbia, 
$4500,  and  from  the  Bank  of  Alexandria  $1500.  Beside 
which  there  is  yet  due  for  wages  of  workmen  and  other  expenses 
incurred  on  account  of  the  Company's  work,  about  $4000, 
making  in  the  whole  the  sum  of  $10,000. 

' '  To  meet  these  engagements,  which  must  be  done  in  a  very 
short  time,  there  is  only  a  balance  of  $1200  due  from  subscrip- 
tions to  shares,  that  can  be  calculated  upon ;  and  twenty-nine 
shares  of  the  Company,  which  were  bought  in  for  the  Com- 
pany at  the  public  sales,  as  stated  in  our  last  report  of  August. 
To  offer  these  shares  in  the  market  at  the  present  moment, 
would  not  only  cause  a  heavy  sacrifice  to  the  Company  in  the 
sale  of  them,  but  it  would  also  greatly  depress  the  value  of 
the  stock  in  the  public  estimation. 

"Under  these  circumstances  we  have  thought  it  our  duty, 
gentlemen,  to  call  a  general  meeting  of  the  stockholders,  that 
they  might  take  such  measures  relative  to  the  affairs  of  the 
Company  as  in  their  wisdom  should  seem  proper.  But  we 
cannot  forbear  to  impress  upon  you  the  necessity  there  is  for 
obtaining  the  means  of  meeting  the  present  engagements  of 
the  Company  without  delay,  as  well  as  the  expediency  of  pro- 
viding funds  to  continue  the  operations  at  Great  Falls,  if  not 
with  the  activity  that  could  be  wished,  at  least  to  prevent  their 
being  stopped  altogether, 

"From  a  draft  of  the  works  at  the  Great  Falls,  which  will 
be  laid  before  you,  you  will  see  the  progress  that  has  been 
made  at  that  place.  To  complete  the  locks  there  from  the 
present  state  of  the  work,  will,  from  the  best  estimates  we  can 
make,  cost  $40,000,     But  so  much  will  depend  upon  the  rise 


The  Patowmack  Company.  97 

or  fall  of  labor,  provisions  &c.  in  the  prosecution  of  the  work, 
that  no  certain  estimate  can  be  made. 

"We  have  obtained  from  the  legislatures  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland  a  law  authorizing  the  collection  of  full  tolls  imme- 
diately at  or  near  the  mouth  of  Conococheague  and  at  or  near 
the  Great  Falls  or  Watt's  Branch,  on  condition  that  the  Com- 
pany shall  receive  at  the  Great  Falls,  transport  across  the 
lock  seats,  and  put  into  boats  below,  such  articles  as  may  be 
brought  there  for  transportation.  Tolls  are  also  granted  at 
the  Little  Falls  on  all  articles  not  passing  the  Great  Falls. 
The  legislatures  have  also  extended  the  time  for  completing 
the  navigation,  to  the  year  1802.  From  these  tolls  a  sum  may 
be  expected  for  the  present  season  that  will  give  some  aid  in 
carrying  on  the  work,  beside  paying  the  expenses  of  collection 
&c.  and  its  increase  will  be  in  proportion  to  the  activity  with 
which  the  works  may  be  carried  on. ' ' 
"Signed,  Tobias  Lear,  Pres.,  Jas.  Keith,  John  Templeman, 

John  Mason." 

In  May,  1798,  it  was  resolved  that  the  sum  of  $6,000 
be  reserved  from  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of 
stock  for  the  building  of  a  warehouse  and  a  new  ma- 
chine for  jDassing  articles  over  the  lock  seats.  The 
president  was  authorized  to  mortgage  as  many  shares 
as  could  be  obtained  and  to  borrow  as  much  stock  as 
could  be  had,  and  to  use  as  much  thereof  as  would  pro- 
duce $10,000.  One  of  the  ''huts"  at  the  Falls  was 
rented  for  $45  per  annum.  At  the  next  meeting  the 
president  reported  that  a  loan  had  been  made  by 
Daniel  Carroll,  of  Duddington,  of  $2,500  of  six  per  cent, 
stock  of  the  United  States,  and  by  General  Washington 
of  $3,498  of  the  same.  Another  loan  of  $2,000  might 
be  expected  from  Mr.  Carroll.  The  superintendent 
and  overseer  were  discharged,  as  funds  would  not  per- 
mit more  work.  Instructions  were  given  the  clerk  at 
Great  Falls  as  to  the  manner  of  delivering  flour  to 
boats  at  foot  of  the  inclined  plane. 


98  The  Patowmack'  Company. 

At  the  general  meeting  in  August  it  was  reported 
that  tolls  collected  at  Great  Falls  amounted  to  over 
$2,000,  which  was  not  at  all  discouraging  for  future 
prospects,  if  only  the  money  could  be  raised  for  the 
completion  of  the  locks.  Some  funds  must  have  been 
obtained,  for  the  following  order  was  entered : 

"Mr.  Panton,  Sir,  As  soon  as  IMr.  Loeffler  brings  hands  from 
Seneca  have  a  small  guard  put  in  the  canal  at  some  convenient 
place  twenty  or  thirty  yards  below  the  bridge  at  the  Forge  to 
throw  the  water  below  off,  then  clear  out  the  passage  through 
the  basin,  next  that  the  stumps  and  obstacles  be  cleared  out  of 
the  way  at  the  little  basin  below  the  lock  and  place  so  stopped 
as  to  let  the  water  discharge  itself  over  the  top  of  the  dam." 

It  is  interesting  to  locate  these  localities  on  the 
ground.  The  Maryland  legislature  was  petitioned  to 
take  one  hundred  additional  shares.  Harbaugh  exhib- 
ited the  model  of  a  machine  for  letting  down  and  hoist- 
ing merchandise  at  Great  Falls  with  estimate  of  its 
expense ;  one  was  ordered  and  a  shed  built  for  its  shel- 
ter.    The  horses  and  wagons  were  sold. 

General  Washingion  attended  the  general  meeting 
on  the  fifth  of  August  held  in  Georgetown.  The  affairs 
of  the  company  were  at  the  lowest  ebb.  The  president 
reported  that  all  efforts  to  obtain  loans  or  aid  from  the 
Maryland  legislature  had  failed.  Work  had  in  conse- 
quence been  at  a  stand  for  the  past  two  seasons.  To 
save  expense  in  the  transport  of  merchandise  at  Great 
Falls  a  shed  had  been  built  at  lower  end  of  lock  for 
warehouse  and  a  new  machine  installed  for  hoisting,  so 
all  hauling  had  been  saved.  The  tolls  were  less  than 
the  preceding  year,  owing  to  short  crops  and  low  water. 
An  eloquent  letter  had  been  sent  each  shareholder  and 
member  of  the  legislatures  representing  the  situation 
and  soliciting  relief.^"     It  was 

"  See  broadside,  appendix  B. 


^ 


! 


^     ^' 


^> 


4 


151 


o 


I  ^  '-C 


The  PatowmacJc  Company.  99 

"  Resolved,  that  there  shall  be  paid  upon  each  share  an  addi- 
tional sum  of  not  less  than  one  hundred  dollars,  the  whole 
amount  not  to  exceed  $60,000  and  that  payment  shall  not  be 
compelled  until  $40,000  has  been  subscribed  and  the  legisla- 
tures pass  laws  to  enforce  the  payments.  That  the  President 
and  Directors  of  the  Potowmack  Company  for  the  time  being 
be  authorized  and  required  to  petition  the  legislatures  of 
Maryland  and  Virginia  at  their  next  sessions  for  the  farther 
payment  of  at  least  one  hundred  dollars  upon  each  share  held 
by  the  said  states  respectively,  as  well  as  for  a  law  empowering 
the  President  and  Directors  to  enforce  payment  of  such  sums 
as  individuals  may  agree  to  pay  upon  the  shares  held  by  them, 
and  also  directing  that  each  share  shall  receive  dividends  in 
proportion  to  the  sum  actually  paid  upon  it. ' ' 

Each  failed ;  the  $40,000  was  not  subscribed,  although 
General  Washington  headed  the  list  with  his  twenty- 
three  individual  shares;  the  state  of  Maryland  was 
obdurate. 

The  struggle  was  ended  when  the  Maryland  House 
of  Delegates  in  July,  1799, 

"Resolved,  That  the  treasurer  of  the  Western  Shore  be  and 
he  is  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to  subscribe  in  behalf 
of  this  state  for  one  hundred  and  thirty  shares  in  the  aug- 
mented capital  stock  of  the  Potowmack  Company;  vizt.  the 
sum  of  £130  ster.  for  each  share  to  be  paid  in  six  per  cent, 
stock  of  the  U.  S.  at  par. 

"Resolved,  that  the  trustees  of  this  state  transfer  the  said 
amount  of  six  per  cent,  stock  to  the  president  and  directors 
of  the  Potowmack  Company  or  their  order  on  the  Governor 
and  Councils  certifying  to  them  that  Bond  with  sufficient 
security  has  been  lodged  with  them  to  complete  the  locks  and 
navigation  of  said  river  at  the  Great  Falls  and  not  before. ' ' 

At  the  general  meeting  called  for  the  10th  of  Decem- 
ber Washington  voted  his  shares  by  proxy.  The  presi- 
dent recited  the  efforts  to  raise  money  for  the  comple- 
tion of  the  locks,  the  proprietors  resolved  that   one 


lOO  The  Patowmack  Company. 

hundred  and  thirty  shares  of  stock  be  created  and  sub- 
scription lists  opened  for  £130  ster. ;  also  resolved  that 
none  of  the  funds  advanced  by  Maryland  be  used  before 
instructions  from  the  next  regular  general  meeting. 
At  the  called  general  meeting  in  January  the  president 
and  directors  were  authorized  and  instructed  to  give  a 
bond  or  bonds  in  their  corporate  capacity  in  the  penalty 
of  $150,000  to  the  persons  who  subscribed  the  bond 
given  to  the  state  of  Maryland,  dated  December  10, 
1799,  conditioned  to  relieve  each  and  ever\^  one  of  them 
for  all  consequences  which  may  result  from  said  bond. 
This  was  carried  by  288  votes;  opposed  were  88  cast 
by  Cazenave  for  himself  and  the  Hollanders. 

In  January  Hartshorne  resigned  as  treasurer  and 
thus  the  last  of  the  original  officers  of  the  company 
passed  out.  Pie  was  succeeded  by  Joseph  Carleton, 
who  served  until  his  death  in  1812;  he  also  acted  as 
secretary,  much  to  the  discomfort  of  the  reader  of  his 
minutes. 

The  locks  which  had  been  originally  planned  to  be 
one  hundred  by  eighteen  feet  were  by  the  legislatures 
reduced  to  eighty  by  fourteen;  Weston  had  advised 
eighty  by  twelve.  Boats  were  rarely  more  than  seven 
or  eight  feet  wide  and  sixty  feet  long ;  none  were  more 
than  ten  by  seventy ;  the  difficulty  of  ascent  would  never 
admit  of  greater  size.  Economy  of  water  and  time  in 
the  locks  was  a  question,  not  to  mention  the  excavation 
of  solid  rock  for  the  lower  locks,  where  4,300  cubic 
yards  of  stone  were  to  be  removed. 

With  money  the  works  were  pushed.  Leonard  Har- 
baugli  was  again  placed  in  charge,  an  iron  chest  was 
ordered  for  the  use  of  the  clerk  at  Great  Falls,  which 
had  evidently  not  previously  been  needed.  The  basin 
was  crowded  with  boats,  the  hoisting  machine  was 
working  night  and  day.  The  president  reported  suffi- 
cient funds  on  hand  to  complete  the  navigation  from 


V 


The  PatowmacJc  Company.  lOi 

tide  water  to  George's  Creek!  Work  on  the  Slienan- 
doah  agitated.  Probably  one  strong  motive  for  under- 
taking this  additional  responsibility  was  the  fact  that 
the  shareholders  from  Berkeley  County  were  losing 
interest  and  sacrificing  their  stock. 

At  a  meeting  in  June,  1801,  at  Great  Falls,  the  di- 
rectors ordered  contracts  made  for  timber  for  lock 
gates  and  decided  that  lock  1  should  rise  twenty-one 
feet  instead  of  eighteen,  lock  2  from  fifteen  feet  to 
eighteen,  3  from  twelve  to  ten  feet  eight  inches,  said  3 
to  be  widened  to  admit  two  boats  of  usual  size,  4  to  be 
completed  as  a  canal  to  communicate  between  3  and  5, 
5  to  raise  from  twelve  feet  to  sixteen  and  that  5  if  nec- 
essary be  enlarged  or  lengthened  to  contain  enough 
water  for  the  lower  lock,  that  a  reservoir  be  made  east 
of  3  for  supply  of  water.  They  authorized  the  super- 
intendent to  engage  a  master  and  common  workmen  to 
push  the  work.  A  Mrs.  Jane  Myers  appears  to  have 
been  speculating  in  Matildaville  realty,  as  the  directors 
rented  her  five  houses  until  Christmas  for  four  dollars 
each,  monthly.  According  to  the  account  of  John 
Davis,  a  travelling  Englishman,  she  also  kept  a  public 
house.^^ 

^^  John  Davis,  ' '  Personal  Adventures  and  Travels  of  Four  and  a  Half 
Years  in  the  United  States  &c., "  London,  1817.  "I  beheld  the  course  of 
a  large  river  abruptly  obstructed  by  rocks  over  which  it  was  breaking 
with  a  tremendous  roar  while  the  foam  of  the  waters  seemed  ascending 
to  the  clouds  and  the  shores  that  confined  it  to  tremble  at  the  convolution. 
I  gazed  for  some  time  in  silent  awe  at  this  war  of  the  elements,  when 
having  recovered  from  my  admiration  I  could  not  help  exclaiming  to  the 
Great  Maker  of  Heaven  and  Earth  'Lord  what  is  man  that  Thou  art 
mindful  of  him,  or  the  son  of  man  that  Thou  regardest  him?'  A  little 
below  the  Falls  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac  stand  a  few  scattered 
buildings  which  form  a  kind  of  hamlet  called  '  Charlotteville '  (Matilda- 
ville?). The  first  settler  in  this  savage  wilderness  was  the  lady  of 
General  Lee  from  whose  christian  name  the  place  takes  its  appellation. 
In  a  house  of  entertainment  kept  by  widow  Myers  I  was  accommodated 
with  a  supper  and  a  bed.  This  buxom  widow  was  a  Methodist  and  pos- 
sessed of  considerable  property." 


I02  The  Patowmack  Company. 

The  president's  report  for  1801  is  pleasant  reading 
after  its  pessimistic  predecessors. 

''Since  your  last  annual  meeting  we  found  no  opportunity 
of  having  the  locks  at  Great  Falls  undertaken  by  contract. 
.  .  .  There  remained  therefore  no  alternative  for  the  Com- 
pany but  to  continue  to  carry  on  the  work  by  hired  laborers 
as  in  tlie  past  year.  In  this  way  we  have  pushed  forward  the 
operations  with  all  the  expedition  in  our  power.  It  appeared 
however  to  us  that  as  this  progressed  and  branched  out  of 
course  into  different  kinds  of  work  it  would  become  absolutely 
necessary  to  have  constantly  on  the  spot  a  person  of  experience 
and  judgment  in  whom  we  could  confide  in  order  to  secure 
as  effectually  as  possible  the  speedy  and  faithful  execution  of 
every  part  of  the  plan.  Accordingly  early  in  the  season  we 
entered  into  an  agreement  with  Leonard  Harbaugh  for  this 
purpose.  In  this  agreement  it  was  a  material  consideration 
with  us  to  interest  him  essentially  in  having  the  locks  finished 
in  time  for  boats  to  pass  with  the  water  of  spring  1802.  .  .  . 
Expense  of  the  works  at  Great  Falls  had  been  $21,000.  .  .  . 
No  debts  (current)  were  due  by  the  Company  except  for  land 
condemned  at  Little  Falls.  .  .  .  From  this  view  of  the  Com- 
pany's affairs  we  have  now  laid  before  you  we  presume  you 
will  derive  much  satisfaction.  It  must  appear  evident  that 
without  some  unforeseen  accident  the  great  object  held  out  in 
our  last  report,  that  of  a  free  navigation  of  the  Potomac  dur- 
ing a  considerable  portion  of  the  year  from  the  mouth  of 
George's  Creek  to  tide  water  will  be  accomplished  by  the  end 
of  the  year  in  time  for  the  ensuing  spring  water. ' ' 

Keith  and  the  same  directors  were  re-elected. 

There  was  a  supplemental  report  of  an  accident  to 
one  of  the  workmen  in  consequence  of  which  he  had 
become  blind.  An  appropriation  was  made  for  his 
support,  and  this  was  continued  during  the  existence  of 
the  company.  In  fact  the  last  entry  in  the  minute  books 
of  the  directory  meetings  is  an  order  for  the  payment 
of  his  pension. 


The  Patowmack  Company.  103 

At  this  meeting  an  order  was  given  for  a  complete 
map  of  the  Potomac  from  Savage  Eiver  to  tide  water. 
No  mention  is  now  made  of  the  contemplated  road  west 
from  the  North  Branch,  western  settlers  were  evidently 
not  in  mind. 

In  December,  1801,  the  directors  made  a  report  to  the 
Assembly  of  Virginia  that  the  locks  were  completed, 
slyly  reminding  them  of  the  generosity  of  Maryland, 
and  asking  their  assistance  in  making  the  Shenandoah 
navigable  also,  but  the  application  was  received  too 
late  for  action  at  that  session. 

The  locks  were  opened  for  business  in  February, 
1802,  and  in  continuous  use  until  1830.  By  the  tables 
annexed  you  will  see  that  the  volume  of  trade  was  large 
and  the  receipts  from  tolls  quite  a  respectable  sum. 
These  locks  being  the  greatest  engineering  accom- 
plishment of  the  eighteenth  century  in  America,  were 
visited  by  all  travellers,  domestic  and  foreign.  In  1796 
the  British  Minister  with  suite  and  a  young  lord  who 
came  from  England  for  that  express  purpose  spent  a 
day  at  the  Falls.  Manaseh  Cutler,  who  was  interested 
in  founding  a  colony  on  the  Ohio  for  Revolutionary 
soldiers,  left  an  accoimt  of  his  inspection. 

"Washington,  January  30,  1802.  Went  early  in  the 
morning  to  Georgetown  where  IMr,  Frank  Dodge,  j\Ir.  Tenney 
and  I  took  horses  and  went  up  to  the  Great  Falls,  about  twelve 
miles.  Visited  on  the  way  the  cannon  foundry,  saw  them 
boring  the  solid  cast  iron  cannon.  Viewed  the  locks  at  the 
lower  Falls  where  the  boats  pass  with  ease.  The  canal  is  about 
two  miles  in  length.  Passed  the  great  bridge  which  is  a  very 
handsome  one  and  well  built  in  the  form  of  the  bridge  over 
the  Merrimac  above  Newburyport.  The  river  very  narrow 
near  and  at  the  bridge,  but  said  to  be  deep.  Arrived  at  the 
Great  Falls  and  put  up  at  Mrs.  Myers.  The  appearance  of 
the  river  is  singular;  filled  with  rocks  about  three  fourths  of 


I04  The  Patowmack  Company. 

a  mile — no  large  cataracts  but  frequent  falls  and  brought  into 
a  narrow  bed  with  high  rocky  banks  at  the  locks.  At  the  lower 
locks  appeared  about  forty  feet  wide;  said  to  be  thirty  five 
feet  deep.  The  work  of  the  locks  (six  in  number)  very  neat. 
The  lower  lock  cut  through  a  solid  rock  by  blasting  about 
forty  seven  feet  deep  and  twelve  feet  wide.  The  water  was 
to  have  passed  this  day  but  not  being  quite  completed  is  to 
be  opened  for  the  passage  of  boats  on  Tuesday,  February 
second.  The  canal  is  three  fourths  of  a  mile.  It  is  a  place 
capable  of  much  business  by  water  works,  but  indolence  reigns 
and  the  country  through  which  we  passed  the  picture  of  lazi- 
ness, negligence  and  poverty.     Old  fields  and  woods." 

The  Eev,  Mr.  Cutler  was  accustomed  to  the  prim 
countryside  about  Boston. 

Had  the  company  been  content  with  the  original  in- 
tention of  improving  the  navigation  of  the  Potomac 
only  all  would  have  been  well  with  them,  but  unfortu- 
nately they  listened  to  the  importunities  of  the  business 
men  on  its  tributaries  and  undertook  the  improvement 
of  the  Shenandoah,  the  Monocacy,  the  Antietam  and 
the  Conococheague.  In  1802  the  company. declared  its 
first  and  only  dividend.  ^  In  that  year  Chas.  Simms,  the 
ablest  man  ever  associated  with  the  company,  became  a 
director.  He  was  an  attorney  of  Alexandria,  an  origi- 
nal shareholder,  with  Jas.  Keith  the  credential  commit- 
tee of  the  meeting  of  organization.  The  membership 
of  the  company  now  embraced  the  most  prominent  men 
of  the  newly  formed  District  of  Columbia;  Thos.  Law 
and  the  Carrolls  were  very  active  and  always  gener- 
ous ;  Greenleaf  held  twenty-four  shares. 

At  the  solicitation  of  Washington  an  arsenal  had 
been  located  at  the  mouth  of  the  Shenandoah  and  a 
canal  cut  there  for  the  convenience  of  the  works,  in 
consideration  for  its  use  the  company  offered  the  gov- 
ernment to  render  the  Shenandoah  navigable ;  however 


The  Patowmack  Company.  105 

for  a  time  tliey  were  unable  to  secure  any  concessions 
they  could  accept  from  the  state  of  Virginia. 

Work  in  the  bed  of  the  river  was  pushed,  for  which 
they  had  excellent  facilities  in  the  extraordinarily  dry 
summer  of  1802.  Much  trouble  was  caused  by  fish 
dams  in  the  river  and  tributaries ;  many  suits  were  en- 
tered against  the  owners. 

In  1803  Virginia  appointed  commissioners  to  view 
the  works  on  the  Potomac,  and  as  guests  of  the  com- 
pany they  were  royally  entertained.  The  treasurer 
was  ordered  to  procure  a  common  seal  of  an  appro- 
priate design  for  the  use  of  the  company.  Only  two 
impressions  of  this  beautiful  seal  are  known  to  be  in 
existence  to-day.  Funds  were  again  becoming  low,  the 
directors  were  authorized  to  borrow  from  the  banks 
for  the  work  on  the  Shenandoah.  Premiums  were  of- 
fered for  good  boats,  as  there  seems  to  always  have 
been  a  shortage.^ ^  Meetings  of  the  directory  were 
often  held  at  Charles  Town  in  1804,  work  being  pushed 
on  the  Shenandoah,  where  the  locks  were  to  be  wooden. 
There  was  much  difficulty  in  securing  an  amicable 
arrangement  for  the  use  of  the  government  canal  at 
the  arsenal. 

The  amiable  gentlemen  directors  always  appre- 
ciated faithful  service;  at  Christmas,  1803, 

"In  consequence  of  the  services  of  Leonard  Harbaugh  in 
opening  the  navigation  of  the  Potomac  River  as  superintendent 
of  the  works  generally  and  more  particularly  on  account  of 
the  useful  improvement  in  the  lock  gates  made  by  him,  a  silver 
cup  to  contain  one  quart  be  procured  with  suitable  devices 
and  inscriptions  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Dorsey  Mr.  Mason 
and  Mr.  Laird  and  that  the  same  with  the  approbation  of  the 
general  meeting  be  presented  him. ' ' 

"  See  newspapers  of  corresponding  date. 


io6  The  Patowmack  Company. 

In  1805  Harbaugh  was  authorized  to  secure  subscrip- 
tions on  the  Shenandoah  to  a  loan,  all  subscribers  to 
be  entitled  to  free  tolls  on  the  rivers.  A  premium  of 
five  per  cent,  was  later  offered.  The  president  reported 
to  the  general  meeting  that 

' '  with  pain  we  are  under  the  necessity  of  informing  the  stock- 
holders that  for  some  time  past  we  have  on  account  of  the 
want  of  funds  desisted  from  all  operations  of  any  importance 
upon  the  Shenandoah,  We  owe  the  hanks  and  individuals 
$31,000.  It  is  certainly  an  object  of  great  importance  to  the 
Company  to  adopt  the  means  of  raising  such  sums  as  may  he 
adequate  to  finishing  the  navigation  of  the  Shenandoah  from 
its  forks  to  Balls'  Falls,  if  funds  cannot  be  obtained  to  extend 
it  into  the  Potomac." 

The  collections  of  tolls  for  1805  amounted  to  $5,213, 
while  the  expenses  had  been  $19,447. 

Nicholas  King,  whom  we  recollect  from  his  plans  of 
Washington,  joined  Harbaugh  in  locating  the  junction 
of  the  Shenandoah  with  the  Potomac  navigation.  Mill 
owners  on  the  former  were  notified  that  the  company 
had  the  legal  right  to  compel  them  to  open  their  dams. 

Wm.  Hartshorne  was  the  chairman  of  the  general 
meeting  in  1806.  Four  hundred  and  forty-two  shares 
were  represented.  The  board  was  ordered  to  render 
the  Potomac  navigable  at  low  water  at  once.  $20,000 
was  required  to  complete  the  work  in  the  Shenandoah. 
The  president  was  authorized  to  borrow  from  the  banks 
of  Alexandria  and  Potomac.  The  president  reported 
Shenandoah  subscriptions  from  individuals  to  be 
$15,060,  of  which  $5,570  had  been  collected,  the  locks  at 
Lyttle's  Falls  and  Wilson's  upper  mill  complete  with 
their  canals,  the  lock  at  the  lower  mill  nearly  finished 
and  considerable  progress  had  been  made  on  the  re- 
maining locks  at  the  same  place ;  no  doubt  was  enter- 
tained but  the  whole  of  the  above  locks  which  were  the 


The  Patowmack  Company.  107 

only  ones  necessary  on  the  river  will  be  completed 
during  the  month  of  October,  and  all  other  obstructions 
removed  early  in  the  next  year  from  the  forks  of  the 
Shenandoah  to  the  Potomac,  about  fifty  miles. 

We  learn  from  an  order  of  the  directors  that  the 
channels  in  the  bed  of  the  Potomac  were  improved  by 
banking  with  saplings  and  brush  loaded  with  stone. 
For  some  unexplained  cause  Harbaugh  was  discharged 
in  November;  directors  Foxall  and  Peter  were  expected 
to  find  a  substitute.  In  the  settlement  of  his  accounts 
in  February  Mrs.  Harbaugh  was  allowed  $30  for  at- 
tendance on  sick  men.  Thomas  Harbaugh  was  ap- 
pointed in  his  brother's  place. 

The  country  was  awakening  to  the  value  of  improved 
roads  and  communications  under  the  inspiration  of  the 
enlightened  views  of  President  Jefferson  and  Secretary 
Gallatin.  In  1806  was  issued  the  famous  order  for  re- 
ports of  all  public  works  in  use  or  in  contemplation  in 
the  entire  country;  this  order  was  receivel  by  the  share- 
holders at  the  general  meeting  in  1807,  when  Chas. 
Simms  was  elected  president  and  served  for  eight 
years  in  that  capacity.  The  president  at  that  meeting- 
reported  : 

"the  completion  of  the  works  on  the  Shenandoah,  boats  from 
Port  Republic  could  reach  tide  water;  the  navigation  might 
have  gone  higher  if  the  residents  had  been  more  interested 
and  generous.  Business  was  hampered  by  lack  of  sufficient 
boats  to  carry  produce,  only  about  sixty  five  of  the  best  class 
being  employed  few  were  provided  with  tarpaulins  and  hand 
pumps.  Neither  was  the  flour  of  the  best  quality,  nor  were 
the  barrels  what  they  should  be." 

John  Mason  compiled  the  report  of  the  Potowmack 
Company  for  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  and  it  was 
a  masterpiece  in  its  way.-^ 

^^  See  appendix  C. 


io8  The  Patowmack  Company. 

At  the  meeting  in  August,  Hartsliorne  was  again 
chairman.  A  petition  was  ordered  to  Virginia  and 
Maryland  to  form  by-laws  for  the  regulation  of  the 
company's  business  and  for  the  protection  of  merchan- 
dise in  transport ;  also  to  render  it  easy  for  foreigners 
to  transfer  stock.  The  people  on  the  Shenandoah  were 
making  much  trouble  with  mill  dams  and  fish  pots. 
Xew  gates  were  ordered  for  the  locks  at  Great  Falls 
and  stone  was  to  replace  the  wooden  locks  at  Little 
Falls. 

Again  the  company  was  out  of  funds.  Eather  than 
appeal  to  the  Maryland  legislature  or  farther  increase 
the  stock  a  lottery  was  suggested.  This  was  the  popu- 
lar mode  of  raising  money  for  all  kinds  of  schemes, 
even  churches  were  built  with  the  proceeds  and  orphan 
asylums  thus  endowed.  A  special  general  meeting  was 
called  for  the  fourth  of  May,  -1809,  where  144  shares 
were  represented.     It  was  then  resolved 

"That  the  president  and  directors  of  the  Potomac  Com- 
pany be  authorized  to  make  an  appeal  to  the  next  session  of 
Congress  to  pass  an  act  to  authorize  the  Company  to  raise  by 
one  or  more  lotteries  the  sum  of  $100,000  for  completing  the 
navigation  of  the  Potomac  and  Shenandoah  rivers,  or  to  obtain 
from  Congress  such  sum  of  money  as  they  may  be  disposed  to 
grant  in  any  other  mode  for  that  purpose. ' ' 

Jos.  Eiddle,  David  Wyley,  Dan.  Carroll,  of  Dudding- 
ton,  Cuthbert  Powell  and  John  Fendall  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  assist  the  directory. 

Philip  B.  Key  was  the  chairman  of  the  meeting  in 
August,  1809,  382  shares  represented.  The  president 
reported  the  directory  considered  it  their  duty  explic- 
itly to  state  that  unless  money  could  be  procured  in 
some  way  or  other  the  progress  of  the  useful  work  in 
which  the  company  has  been  so  long  engaged  and  have 
expended  so  much  money  must  cease. 


The  Patowmack  Com'pany.  109 

At  the  meeting-  in  1810  a  lottery  scheme  under  the 
laws  of  Maryland  was  adopted.  The  appeal  to  Con- 
gress had  signally  failed,  as  any  proposition  coming 
from  a  concern  notoriously  Federalist  was  bound  to 
do.  And  just  then,  too,  the  national  government  was 
much  engaged  in  solving  riddles  propounded  by  Napo- 
leon and  Great  Britain.  As  usual  in  such  cases  of  dis- 
turbance capital  sought  secure  hiding  places  and  all 
enterprises  suffered. 

The  act  of  the  state  of  Maryland  secured  at  the 
solicitation  of  the  directory  authorized  a  lottery  to 
raise  $300,000  for  the  improvement  of  the  navigation  of 
the  Potomac  and  its  branches,  of  which  the  following  is 
the  authorized  ticket : 

"Potowmack  and  Shenandoah  Navigation 

Lottery No 

"By  authorization  of  the  State  of  Maryland, 

"This  ticket  will  entitle  the  Bearer  to  such  prize  as  may 

be  drawn  to  its  number  if  demanded  within  twelve  months 

after  the  drawing  shall  have  been  completed,  subject  to  15% 

deduction. 

"By  order  of  the  President  &  Directors   of  the   Potow- 

mack  Co. 

"  (Signed)  Treasurer." 

A  special  meeting  was  called  for  the  10th  of  May, 
1810,  when  it  was  resolved  that  the  bond  demanded  by 
the  state  of  Maryland  for  the  correct  conduct  of  the 
lottery  should  be  given  under  seal  of  the  corporation. 
The  agents  to  be  employed  to  also  serve  under  bond. 
Later  Joseph  Carleton,  the  treasurer  of  the  company, 
was  appointed  agent  for  the  sale  of  tickets  with  a 
salary  of  $500  per  annum  with  travelling  expenses. 
Tickets  were  to  be  sold  for  $10  each  with  a  discount  for 
blocks  of  five  hundred.  Fortunately  the  honorable 
gentlemen  could  not  foresee  the  disasters  this  would 
bring"  upon  them. 


no  The  Patowmack  Company. 

Thompson  Mason  was  the  chairman  of  the  general 
meeting  in  August,  387  shares  represented.  The  presi- 
dent reported : 

''$10,343  expended,  $7915  received  from  tolls.  The  want 
of  funds  prevented  progress  in  improving  the  beds  of  the 
Potomac  and  Shenandoah  rivers.  He  recited  the  appeal  to 
the  ]\Iaryland  legislature  to  authorize  a  lottery  and  they, 
influenced  by  a  spirit  of  patriotism  and  Uberality  honourable 
to  themselves,  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  Company  to  raise 
by  lottery  or  lotteries,  the  sum  of  $300,000  for  the  purpose  of 
the  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  river  Potomac  and 
its  tributary  streams;  a  sum  amply  sufficient  to  accomplish 
that  great  and  useful  object  in  the  most  full  and  complete 
manner.  Whether  the  benevolent  and  liberal  views  of  the 
Assembly  of  Maryland  in  granting  to  the  Company  so  im- 
portant a  privilege  will  be  realized,  depends  on  the  spirit  and 
liberality  of  those  interested  in  the  agriculture  and  commerce 
and  in  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  towns  in  the  fertile 
and  extensive  country  adjacent  to  the  Potomac  and  Shenan- 
doah rivers.  If  they  should  not  justly  appreciate  the  advan- 
tages which  will  result  from  making  those  rivers  navigable 
and  patronize  the  lottery  with  spirit  and  energy,  no  hope  can 
be  entertained  that  the  lottery  vnll  succeed ;  but  it  is  believed 
that  they  will  avail  themselves  of  so  fair  an  opportunity  of 
promoting  their  own  interest  and  prosperity." 

The  directory  then  announced  the  scheme  of  the 
lottery  to  raise  $20,000  with  one  of  their  number, 
Josiah  Thompson,  as  special  agent  in  charge. 

Tobias  Thompson  was  in  charge  of  all  work  on  the 
rivers. 

A  farther  extension  of  five  years  was  asked  from 
1811  in  which  to  render  the  Potomac  navigable  in  the 
dryest  seasons.  With  Chas.  Simms,  a  Virginian,  presi- 
dent, the  custom  of  holding  alternate  directory  meetings 
in  Alexandria  was  resumed,  except  when  it  was  neces- 
sary to  meet  at  some  place  on  the  upper  river. 


The  Patowmack  Company.  iii 

At  the  general  meeting  in  1811,  Daniel  Carroll,  Esq., 
chairman,  the  president  reported: 

"$21,505  expended,  principally  on  debts,  $22,542  on  bank 
curtailments,  interest  and  expense  of  the  lottery.  Receipts 
from  tolls  $22,542.  Impressed  with  the  importance  of  draw- 
ing the  first  class  of  the  lottery  they  were  under  the  necessity 
of  commencing  the  drawing  of  that  class  under  circumstances 
unfavorable  or  of  relinquishing  the  plan  of  raising  money  by 
lotteries  and  the  prospect  and  advantages  of  rendering  the 
Potomac  and  Shenandoah  rivers  navigable  at  all  seasons 
within  a  reasonable  time.  Eather  than  the  public  and  the 
Company  should  be  deprived  of  these  advantages  they  thought 
it  better  to  encounter  the  risk  of  drawing  the  lottery  with  a 
large  proportion  of  the  tickets  remaining  unsold,  and  accord- 
ingly commenced  the  drawing  on  the  6  May  last  and  have 
drawn  8000  tickets.  In  the  course  of  the  drawing  the  wheel 
has  gained  $21,060  and  an  unusual  great  proportion  of  the 
large  prizes  still  remain  in  the  wheel;  a  well  grounded  hope 
may  be  entertained  of  $10,000  or  $15,000  being  raised  by  the 
first  class  of  the  lottery,  which  they  flatter  themselves,  has 
and  will  be  so  conducted  as  to  give  general  satisfaction  and  to 
facilitate  the  drawing  of  subsequent  classes." 

He  also  reported  that  private  parties  along  the 
rivers  occasionally  assisted  in  the  work  by  labor  or 
funds. 

The  laws  on  riparian  rights  were  to  be  invoked 
against  unpatriotic  citizens  of  Virginia. 

Permission  was  secured  from  the  Secretary  of  War 
to  erect  a  warehouse  on  public  ground  at  Harper's 
Ferry. 

Maryland  citizens  have  always  been  public  spirited. 
A  subscription  of  $20,000  was  raised  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  Antietam  Eiver  from  the  Pennsylvania 
line.  It  was  offered  to  the  company,  who  accepted  it 
at  six  per  cent,  to  be  repaid  in  tolls.  Work  to  be  im- 
mediately commenced.  John  Rogan  appointed  super- 
intendent of  the  work  at  $50  per  month. 


112  The  Patoxcmack  Company. 

Legal  difficulties  were  accmniilating  at  different 
points,  so  Upton  Lawrence  and  Sam'l  Hughes  were 
retained  as  counsel  for  tlie  company  in  1812.  In  May 
the  greatly  esteemed  treasurer,  Jos.  Carleton,  died  and 
Joseph  Brewer  was  appointed,  while  Jonah  Thompson 
took  charge  of  the  lottery  business.  New  locks  were 
ordered  for  Little  Falls  to  be  twelve  feet  wide.  Land 
to  be  there  condemned  for  change  in  direction.  Much 
annoyance  in  regard  to  river  frontage.  At  the  ap- 
pointed directory  meeting  in  July  there  was  no  quorum 
for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  company.  At 
the  general  meeting  in  1812,  Jas.  Keith,  chairman,  the 
president  reported: 

"New  locks  of  stone  at  Little  Falls.  Permanent  low  water 
navigation  in  the  Potomac  completed  to  Stubblefield.  Ex- 
penditures $32,257,  $12,856  for  bank  curtailments,  discounts 
and  debts  to  Maryland  for  loans ;  $2083  expended  on  Antietam, 
subscriptions  $5708.  Tolls  collected  $14.39-1.  Principal  mer- 
chandise flour,  75,235  barrels,  3,946  barrels  of  whiskey,  414 
tons  iron." 

The  president  regretted  that  some  lottery  debts  could 
not  be  collected  without  suit.  In  the  present  distracted 
state  of  the  country  he  doubted  if  the  second  drawing 
would  be  successful.  The  debt  of  the  company  amounted 
to  $48,801,  resources  $5,775. 

The  Shenandoah  people  were  becoming  very  impa- 
tient of  the  delays  in  the  work  and  did  not  hesitate  to 
so  express  themselves  in  most  emphatic  language,  hence 
the  company  resolved : 

"That  if  a  subscription  can  be  made  by  them  in  loans  of 
money  and  labor  sufficient  to  improve  the  navigation  of  the 
North  Branch  so  as  to  make  it  navigable  at  all  seasons,  or 
with  a  small  rise  of  water,  as  soon  as  the  Directors  shall  be 
informed  thereof,  that  they  will  direct  the  superintendent  of 


The  First  Lock  at  the  Great  Falls  of  the  Poto^lvc 
(Photograph  by  Miss  ^'iolet  Bacon  Foster) 


The  Patowmack  Company.  113 

the  Company  in  conjunction  with  a  commissioner  or  com- 
missioners to  be  appointed  by  the  said  subscribers  to  lay  out 
the  said  branch  from  its  mouth  to  Mill  Creek,  in  convenient 
districts  and  contract  and  agree  vith  such  commissioners  for 
opening  and  improving-  the  respective  districts  of  said  river 
for  such  sums  of  money  as  may  be  agreed  on  by  said  parties 
on  any  district  of  said  river  being  made  navigable  according 
to  contract,  and  loans  and  labor  made  and  performed  by  indi- 
viduals, and  a  certificate  thereof  given  by  the  commissioner 
of  such  district  of  the  sum  each  subscriber  is  entitled  to  re- 
ceive for  money  or  labor,  that  the  Potomac  Company  will  pay 
an  interest  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum  on  the  amount.  .  .  . 
And  the  president  and  directors  do  promise  and  agree  that 
the  amount  expressed  in  such  certificate  shall  be  refunded 
and  paid  to  the  legal  holder  of  them  in  five,  six  and  seven 
years  in  equal  installments  and  the  interest  thereon  shall  be 
punctually  paid  annually. ' ' 

The  next  lottery  drawing  was  ordered  for  Novem- 
ber 27. 

A  very  ngly  dispute  arose  as  to  the  ownership  of 
tickets  not  paid  for  at  the  time  of  the  drawing.  It  was 
submitted  to  arbitration  and  decided  in  favor  of  the 
company,  but  the  opportunity  was  given  the  claimants 
to  select  others  if  they  would  give  security.  The  ques- 
tion was  not  finally  decided  for  several  years. 

Rivals  appeared  in  the  field,  undeterred  by  the  trou- 
bles of  the  Patowmack  Company.  The  directors  there- 
fore employed  Thompson  Mason  to  present  a  memorial 
and  remonstrance  to  the  Assembly  of  Virginia  against 
the  passage  of  an  act  for  incorporating  a  company  for 
cutting  a  canal  from  Seneca  Falls  to  Hunting  Creek. 
He  appears  to  have  been  successful,  as  we  hear  no  more 
of  the  undertaking. 

The  showing  of  the  business  done  on  the  Potomac 
probably  caused  the  Maryland  Assembly  to  again  assist 
the  company  by  a  loan  of  $30,000  in  1813.  A  special 
9 


114  The  Patoxcmack  Company. 

meeting  of  the  stockholders  was  held  on  February  22 
for  consideration  of  the  question  of  acceptance.  In 
explanation  of  this  we  must  remember  the  financial 
condition  of  the  United  States  in  that  year  and  also 
that  the  political  complexion  of  the  company  was  Fed- 
eralist; this  last  was  probably  the  cause  of  John 
Mason's  leaving  the  directory,  to  return  in  two  years 
however. 

About  1812  David  Bailie  Warden,  consul  general  at 
Paris,  now  remembered  as  a  collector  of  Americana, 
visited  in  the  United  States  and  was  a  guest  in  the 
beautiful  home  of  John  Mason  on  Analostan  Island. 
In  1816  he  published  in  Paris,  "  Chrorographical  and 
Statistical  Description  of  the  District  of  Columbia,- 
«S:c.,"  in  which  he  thus  described  the  work  at  Great 
Falls  then  in  the  flush  of  success : 

"...  The  boats  employed  for  the  navigation  of  these 
rivers  are  75  feet  long,  5  feet  wide,  and  draw  1 8  inches,  carry 
20  tons.  Two  with  more  than  100  barrels  of  flour  each,  pass 
the  locks  at  Great  Falls  in  an  hour,  and  it  rarely  happens  that 
the  boat  or  cargo  is  injured.  The  cost  of  carrying  a  barrel  of 
flour  from  Cumberland  to  George  Town  was  one-half  less  by 
water,  including  tolls,  than  by  land. ' ' 

A  loan  of  $10,000  at  six  per  cent,  was  offered  by 
Edward  McCarty  and  others  of  the  upper  river  for  the 
improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Potomac  from 
Coxes  Falls  to  the  mouth  of  New  Creek,  to  be  repaid 
out  of  tolls  collected.  It  was  accepted  and  the  superin- 
tendent directed  to  make  the  necessary  contracts.  Mr. 
McCarty  will  be  remembered  as  having  been  associated 
with  Thos.  Beall,  of  Sam'l,  in  his  first  contract. 

William  Marbury  was  the  chairman  of  the  general 
meeting  in  1813,  when  the  president  reported  $32,437 
expended;  $11,816  tolls  collected.  The  want  of  funds 
prevented  the  progress  of  the  works  to  the  extent  that 


The  Patowmack  Company.  ii5 

could  be  wished.  The  directory,  impressed  with  the 
importance  of  obtaining  funds  if  practicable,  had  made 
application  to  the  legislature  of  Maryland  for  a  loan 
of  money  and  that  honorable  body  with  their  usual 
liberality  agreed  to  loan  the  company  $'50,000  in  six 
per  cent.  U.  S.  bank  stock  on  the  security  they  required 
being  given.  Subsequent  events  rendering  it  highly 
probable  that  U.  S.  stock  might  greatly  depreciate  the 
directory  did  not  think  it  advisable  to  accept  of  the 
loan  without  the  approbation  of  the  company.  Work- 
men were  employed  in  removing  obstacles  about  Great 
Falls  and  in  repairing  locks.  In  consequence  of  the 
trouble  with  Gray  and  Milligan  over  contract  and 
claim  to  a  $20,000  prize  and  the  difficulty  in  selling 
tickets  in  the  present  distressed  state  of  the  country 
the  managers  thought  it  most  prudent  to  suspend 
the  drawing  of  the  lottery,  at  least  until  the  dispute 
with  Gray  and  Milligan  be  settled.  Ordered,  arbitra- 
tion with  these  obnoxious  gentlemen.  The  pension  to 
the  blind  laborer  at  Great  Falls,  as  alwavs,  provided 
for. 

The  Shenandoah  proposition  was  not  making  much 
progress  and  the  people  along  the  stream  were  in  a  bad 
temper.  In  October  President  Simms  with  directors 
Thompson  and  Marbury  appointed  a  meeting  at  New 
Market  for  conference.  After  some  pretty  direct  state- 
ments the  gentlemen  on  the  part  of  the  Patowmack 
Company  proposed  that  they  should  relinquish  all 
rights  to  open  the  Shenandoah  navigation  and  transfer 
them  to  a  company  to  be  established  by  Virginia,  on 
consideration  that  such  company  reimburse  the  value 
of  the  locks  and  other  work  done  that  may  be  deemed 
useful  to  the  new  company,  such  to  be  ascertained  by 
two  or  more  experienced  and  disinterested  persons  to 
be  chosen  by  the  respective  companies.     If  such  com- 


ii6  The  Patowmack  Company. 

pany  be  not  formed  in  six  months  and  work  com- 
menced in  eighteen  months  after  forming  of  the 
company  the  rights  of  the  Patowmack  Company  to 
continue,  and  a  farther  term  of  five  years  shall  be 
allowed  them  for  completion  qf  work.  The  proposition 
was  accepted  and  was  referred  to  annual  meeting  of 
the  Patowmack  Company  for  ratification;  which  was 
secured  in  a  special  meeting  for  November. 

Then  attempts  were  made  to  arrange  with  Antietam 
and  Monocacy  subscribers. 

"1813 
"To  THE  Honorable  Senate  and  House  of  Delegates  of 
Virginia  ; 
' '  The  petition  of  the  president  and  directors  of  the  Potowmack 
Company  respectfully  represents  that  the  Potowmack  Com- 
pany have  long  since  removed  the  great  obstacles  to  the  navi- 
gation of  the  Potomac  river  from  tide  water  to  about  thirty 
miles  above  Cumberland  so  as  to  render  the  navigation  safe 
and  easy  for  boats  with  a  moderate  rise  of  water  and  for  the 
last  three  years  have  used  all  the  means  within  their  power 
to  increase  the  depth  of  the  water  in  the  bed  of  the  river  by 
making  dams  in  the  shallow  parts  of  the  river  and  although 
considerable  progress  has  been  made  in  effecting  that  object 
yet  it  is  not  so  fully  accomplished  as  they  wish  and  the  interest 
of  the  community  requires ;  your  petitioners  therefore  humbly 
pray  your  Honors  to  allow  the  Potowmack  Company  the 
farther  time  of  five  years  to  be  computed  from  the  expiration 
of  the  time  already  granted.  Finding  it  was  not  practicable 
with  the  funds  they  possessed,  or  could  procure  to  complete 
the  navigation  of  the  Shenandoah  river  within  a  reasonable 
time,  although  the  principal  obstacles  have  been  removed  at  a 
great  expense,  and  sundry  inhabitants  of  the  counties  adjacent 
being  desirous  that  it  should  be  made  navigable  as  soon  as 
possible  and  believing  that  object  would  be  more  speedily 
effected  by  forming  a  new  company,  they  entered  into  an 
agreement  with  them  for  that  purpose." 


The  Patowmack  Company.  n? 

A  petition  was  made  to  the  legislature  of  Maryland 
to  modify  the  proffered  loan  so  as  to  enable  the  com- 
pany to  refund  in  same  kind  of  stock  and  to  accept  as 
pledge  the  tolls  of  the  company,  which  probably  was 
granted.  The  stock  was  to  be  deposited  in  such  bank 
as  would  advance  cash  on  it  to  be  expended  solely  on 
the  improvement  of  navigation  from  tide  water  to  Har- 
per's  Ferry  and  for  completing  the  locks  at  Little  Falls, 
until  the  navigation  should  be  such  as  to  admit  of  the 
free  and  safe  passage  of  boats  with  eighty  barrels  of 
flour  every  day  in  the  year.  Directors  to  visit  the  work 
once  every  month.  Josiah  Thompson  was  appointed 
superintendent.  A  second  drawing  of  the  lottery  com- 
menced in  November. 

At  the  general  meeting  in  1814  the  president  reported 
$26,998  expended,  tolls  collected  $9,109.  Received  from 
Maryland  $30,000  in  U.  S.  stock.  Loans  of  $19,790  on 
$20,000  of  the  stock.  McCarty's  loan  had  been  partly 
expended  on  the  upper  river.  Work  at  Antietam  sus- 
pended on  account  of  non-payment  of  subscriptions. 
Locks  at  Little  Falls  nearly  completed. 

In  November  another  $5,000  was  discounted.  Chas, 
Simms  transferred  his  stock  and  resigned  as  president 
to  be  succeeded  temporarily  by  Elie  Williams.  Ap- 
plication was  made  to  the  District  of  Columbia,  Mary- 
land and  Virginia  for  a  law  empowering  the  company 
to  protect  its  water  rights.  Gray  instituted  suit 
against  Jonah  Thompson  on  the  lottery  prize  question 
and  won;  thereupon  appeal  was  taken  to  the  U.  S. 
Supreme  Court. 

This  statement  was  issued  in  June,  1815 : 

"The  directors  find  that  the  diminished  intercourse  on  the 
river  navigation  during  the  war  and  the  disbursements  of  the 
Company  within  that  period  on  the  new  Locks  at  the  Little 
Falls  and  other  work,  has  so  far  depressed  the  funds  of  the 


ii8  The  Patowmack  Company. 

Company  that  with  all  the  aid  of  accruing  funds  there  Avill 
scarcely  be  a  sufficiency  to  complete  the  new  locks  in  time 
to  pass  boats  and  other  craft  before  the  old  locks  which  are 
of  wood  and  much  decayed  will  be  wholly  unfit  for  use.  The 
funds  of  the  Company  not  being  competent  to  the  payment  of 
discounts  on  the  bank  debts  and  continuing  the  work  on 
the  new  locks,  the  alternative  is  left  of  discontinuing  the  work 
and  paying  the  discounts,  for  a  few  months  only,  when  the 
failure  of  the  old  locks  will  leave  no  means  of  paying  debt  or 
discount,  or  to  suspend  the  payment  of  discount  for  a  short 
period  till  the  new  locks  are  completed  by  w^hich  an  ample 
revenue  will  be  secured  for  the  payment  of  both.  .  .  .  The 
directors  do  not  hesitate  to  adopt  the  latter  alternative,  in 
full  confidence  that  the  measure  will  meet  the  concurrence  of 
all  concerned." 

At  the  general  meeting  in  1815  Elie  Williams  was 
elected  president,  Geo.  Peter,  Wm.  Marl)ury,  Jonah 
Thompson  and  Jno.  C.  Vowell  directors. 

Thoroughly  aroused  the  Shenandoah  people  pre- 
sented this  communication : 

' '  A  sufficient  number  of  subscriptions  have  been  obtained  to 
constitute  a  company,  but  many,  if  not  a  majority,  of  them 
are  conditional  who  will  withdraw  unless  the  directors  of 
the  Potomac  Company  will  make  the  terms  much  more  accom- 
modating than  the  law  prescribes.  The  people  in  the  country 
complain  that  the  Potomac  Company  has  not  treated  them 
well,  they  say  they  have  for  many  years  held  out  the  idea  of  a 
speedy  accomplishment  of  that  w^ork  in  which  they  felt  them- 
selves so  much  interested,  they  say  they  were  (many  of  them) 
induced  to  loan  money  to  the  Company  and  to  purchase 
lottery  tickets  in  order  to  promote  so  desirable  an  object,  and 
nothing  of  any  consequence  has  been  done  and  wlien  the  Com- 
pany discover  they  cannot  accomplish  it,  when  the  prospect 
of  suspension  of  commerce  presented  itself,  when  turnpike 
roads  are  opening  in  every  direction,  whereby  the  tolls  will 
be  greatly  curtailed,  the  Potomac  Company  are  willing  to 
relinquish  their  claims  on  being  paid  the  value  of  their  im- 


The  Patowmack  Company.  119 

provements.  The  feeling  of  the  people  has  been  excited 
and  their  resentment  aroused,  and  it  will  require  considerable 
concessions  to  reconcile  them,  indeed  some  of  them  are  so 
exasperated  that  nothing  but  an  immense  advantage  from  the 
navigation  of  the  river  would  induce  them  to  use  it  were 
it  now  complete  under  the  management  of  the  Potomac 
Company. 

"I  really  think  the  Potomac  Company  ought  in  justice  and 
in  regard  to  their  own  interest,  to  bear  a  proportional  part  of 
the  expenses  of  opening  the  Shenandoah  river.  If  that  river 
is  opened  there  is  no  doul)t  but  the  tolls  at  Great  Falls  will 
increase  more  than  1005c,  I  think  200%,  whereas  in  its  present 
situation  it  is  a  real  expense  to  the  Company.  It  is  a  maxim 
in  justice  that  when  two  or  more  are  materially  benefited  each 
should  bear  an  equal  share  of  the  cost. ' ' 

Then  the  directors  agreed  to  recommend  to  the  stock- 
holders to  change  the  terms  proposed  and  acceded  to 
hy  the  directors  of  the  Patowmack  Company  and  the 
persons  present  at  the  New  Market  conference  as 
follows,  thus: 

''That  instead  of  payment  proposed  to  be  made  by  the  new 
company  for  the  work  done  on  the  Shenandoah  by  the  Potow- 
mack  Company  the  amount  of  the  valuation  to  be  made  as 
agreed  on  shall  be  subscribed  by  the  Potowmack  Company 
to  the  stock  of  the  new  company  and  divide  in  common  with 
their  stock  holders  in  proportion  to  the  stock  subscribed." 

The  president  reported  at  the  meeting  in  August : 

"The  loan  from  Cumberland  section  has  been  expended  on 
the  North  Branch.  The  contemplated  improvement  of  the 
Antietam  had  been  effected  only  in  part  from  the  refusal  of  a 
number  of  subscribers  under  an  apprehension  and  belief  (sanc- 
tioned by  public  opinion)  that  the  estimate  for  the  work  was 
too  low  and  some  of  the  subscriptions  too  small.  On  an  over- 
ture from  the  Shenandoah  company  a  conditional  proposition 
has  been  made  to  relinquish  to  them  the  tolls  on  the  Shenan- 


I20  Tixe  Patowmack  Company. 

doali  on  condition  they  would  complete  its  navigation  within 
a  given  period,  ... 

"The  drawing  of  the  second  class  lottery  had  commenced 
and  progressed  several  days  when  it  was  interrupted  and 
suspended  by  a  dispute  with  a  certain  Robt.  Gray  respecting 
the  property  of  a  ticket  which  had  come  out  of  the  wheel 
with  a  prize  of  $20,000,  while  in  possession  of  the  managers 
and  before  it  had  been  bought  by  Gray  or  any  other  person. 
This  dispute  produced  a  suit  by  Gray  which  was  tried  in  the 
District  Court  of  Alexandria  and  a  verdict  given  against  the 
Company;  but  under  circumstances  which  made  it  advisable 
to  appeal  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  U.  S.  where  the  case 
is  now  pending,  this  will  suspend  the  drawing  of  the  lottery 
until  the  event  is  known.  In  the  trial  of  this  cause  it  became 
inportant  to  the  Company  that  Col.  Chas.  Simms'  testimony 
should  be  used ;  he  therefore  thought  proper  to  resign  his  seat 
at  this  Board  and  dispose  of  his  interest  to  render  him  a 
competent  witness. ' ' 

"Resolved;  to  aim  at  rendering  the  navigation  of  the  Po- 
towmack  river  such  that  boats  with  one  hundred  barrels  of 
flour  may  pass  at  any  period  of  the  year  when  not  prevented 
by  frost. 

' '  Resolved  at  the  general  meeting,  '  In  regard  to  the  Shenan- 
doah Company  as  before  given,  that  the  Shenandoah  com- 
panj^  shall  have  the  right  any  time  within  ten  years  to  pur- 
chase the  stock  as  subscribed  by  the  Potowmack  Company.'  " 

Jonah  Thompson  was  appointed  to  meet  members  of 
the  Shenandoah  Company  and  to  negotiate  with  them 
for  transferring  to  them  all  the  rights  of  the  Patow- 
mack Company  on  such  terms  as  he  may  deem  proper. 

He  reported : 

"In  consideration  of  the  conveyance  of  the  canals,  cuts, 
locks  and  all  and  every  of  the  rights,  claims  and  interests  of 
the  Potowmack  Company  on  the  Shenandoah,  the  Shenandoah 
company  do  agree  to  pay  to  the  Potowmack  Company  the  sum 
of  $15,000  to  be  taken  in  shares  of  $50  of  stock  of  the  new 


The  Second  Lock  at  the  Great  Falls  of  the  Potomac 
(Photograpli  by  Miss  Violet  Bacon  Foster) 


The  Patowmack  Company.  121 

company;  and  farther  that  the  Potowmack  Company  do  bind 
themselves  to  secure  by  indisputable  title  their  rights  to  the 
said  canals  etc.  clear  of  the  adverse  claims  of  the  United 
States  and  individuals,  especially  of  the  U.  S.  Armory,  Wil- 
son's, Graves'  and  Craighill's  mills.  Subject  to  the  ratifica- 
tions of  both  companies  at  their  general  meetings. 

"Notwithstanding  the  sum  is  much  less  than  that  expended 
and  below  its  value,  yet  in  consideration  of  various  circum- 
stances and  the  accommodation  of  extensive  and  fertile  settle- 
ments remote  from  market  the  directors  do  agree." 

The  treasurer  was  ordered  to  pay  Jonah  Thompson 
$191.51  for  services  and  expenses,  and  thus  was  closed 
a  stormy  episode  in  the  history. 

In  1816  the  president  reported  expenditures  of 
$40,282,  with  receipts  from  tolls  of  $7,501.  Payments 
had  been  made  of  pressing  claims  on  old  debts  under 
judgments,  for  labor,  for  repairs  to  locks  and  for 
salaries. 

The  suit  brought  by  Gray  was  decided  in  his  favor 
by  the  Supreme  Court,  although  the  company  was  rep- 
resented by  such  distinguished  men  as  Mr.  Walter 
Jones  and  Mr.  Pinckney.  This  discomfiture  so  changed 
the  aspect  of  the  lottery  as  to  render  the  tickets  on 
hand  in  a  measure  unsalable  and  a  prosecution  of  the 
scheme  hopeless  in  benefit  and  almost  certain  as  to  loss; 
in  this  unpleasant  predicament  the  managers  had  no 
alternative  but  to  wait  for  the  sale  of  the  tickets  or  to 
proceed  in  the  drawing  with  a  certainty  of  consider- 
able loss.    It  was 

"Resolved  to  borrow  if  possible  $26,000  for  the  new  locks 
at  Little  Falls  and  payment  of  old  claims. 

"Resolved  to  ratify  agreement  with  the  Shenandoah  com- 
pany without  guarantee  against  the  United  States  or  indi- 
viduals. ' ' 


122  The  Patowmack  Company. 

In  response  the  seven  banks  of  the  District  loaned 
the  company  the  $26,000,  to  be  repaid  from  tolls  after 
settlement  of  current  expenses. ^^ 

As  usual  the  blind  Wiley  was  voted  his  pension. 

A  special  meeting  was  called  in  December,  1816,  Geo. 
Peter,  Esq.,  chairman,  to  consider  another  troublesome 
matter.  Four  hundred  and  thirty-eight  shares  repre- 
sented. One  John  K.  Smith  had  purchased  the  land 
about  Little  Falls  and  wished  to  combine  with  the  com- 
pany in  control  of  the  water  rights  in  speculative  in- 
terests.    The  company  resolved : 

' '  That  as  many  mill  sites  be  laid  off  along  the  canal  as  may 
be  conveniently  embraced  within  fifty  four  acres  from  the 
lower  end  of  it  the  said  sites  to  extend  from  the  canal  to  the 
river;  that  five  of  these  sites  he  sold  at  auction  and  the  pro- 
ceeds to  be  equally  divided,  the  remainder  of  the  sites  to  be 
alternately  divided  between  the  Company  and  Mr.  Smith, — or 
he  may  hold  option  for  ten  days  to  pay  for  water  rights 
$60,000,  the  navigation  not  to  be  interfered  with;" 

which  offer  he  declined. 

The  company  accepted  a  compromise  with  Gray  on 
the  lottery  question  and  the  drawing  proceeded. 

A  fine  petition  and  statement  of  monies  expended  by 
the  company  wth  a  tabulated  statement  of  the  business 
done  in  the  time  between  1799  and  1816  was  prepared 
to  present  to  the  Virginia  legislature  in  opposition  to 
another  company  asking  a  charter  for  a  canal  from 
Seneca  to  Alexandria.  It  was  prepared  by  John  Peter 
and  supplemented  by  a  letter  from  John  Mason  to 
Chas.  Fenton  Mercer,  asking  him  to  present  both  to  the 
legislature.  In  a  petition  an  extention  of  time  for  three 
years  for  the  completion  of  the  work  in  the  bed  of  the 

="  Columbia,  $8,100,  Union,  $4,300,  Farmers  &  Mechanics,  $3,300, 
Metropolitan,  $3,000,  Patriotic,  $2,000,  Washington,  $3,900,  Central, 
$1,400. 


The  Patowmack  Company.  123 

river  was  asked.  Another  project  was  to  construct  a 
canal  from  Leesburg  to  Alexandria.  Mason  wrote 
Mercer  to  have  consideration  of  this  postponed. 

At  the  regular  meeting  in  August,  1817,  John  Mason 
was  elected  president,  which  office  he  held  for  eleven 
years  or  during  the  farther  existence  of  the  Patowmack 
Company ;  508  shares  were  represented.  J.  K.  Smith 
was  once  more  before  them  with  a  petition,  saying  he 
had  been  two  years  trying  to  adjust  matters  at  Little 
Falls,  he  would  now  offer  $30,000  for  water  power  on 
terms  given  Henry  Lee  at  Great  Falls,  for  which  he 
paid  nothing ;  if  declined  he  would  bring  suit  to  deter- 
mine his  rights.  He  called  on  the  stockholders  to  de- 
cide on  the  issue. 

The  president  reported  collection  of  tolls  $13,948. 
During  the  past  season's  unusual  low  water  boats  with 
fifty  to  sixty  barrels  of  flour  had  continuously  passed 
down  from  Harper's  Ferry.  From  Mason's  report  to 
Virginia  it  appears  that  total  expenses  from  1785,  had 
been  $650,000,  tolls  from  1799,  $162,380. 

In  1818  the  treasurer  of  Maryland  began  asking  about 
the  debt  and  interest  due  the  state.  Jonah  Thompson 
reported  the  final  closing  of  the  lottery  with  a  profit  of 
about  $486  and  many  prizes  still  unpaid. 

At  the  general  meeting  the  president  reported  the 
Little  Falls  locks  open.  $15,000  had  been  borrowed 
from  District  banks  on  the  condition  that  no  farther 
work  would  be  commenced  until  debts  to  them  were 
paid.  New  gates  had  been  x)rovided  for  the  lower  lock 
at  Great  Falls.  No  settlement  had  been  made  with 
Smith.  The  lottery  had  not  proved  a  success  and 
Maryland  had  forbidden  any  more  drawings  under  the 
old  permit.  Jos.  Brewer,  treasurer,  resigned,  Jas. 
Moore,  Jr.,  appointed. 


124  ^''^  PatowmacJc  Company. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Patowmack  Company  held  at 
Semmes'  Tavern  in  George  Town  the  2d  day  of  Au- 
gust, 1819 : 

"William  Marbiiry,  Esqr.  was  appointed  chairman  and 
John  K.  Smith  and  Lewis  G.  Davidson  a  committee  to  ex- 
amine the  proxies  who  reported  in  due  manner.  Shares 
voting ; — Maryland,  220,  Virginia,  120,  John  Mason,  5,  James 
Keith  sr.  3,  John  C.  Vowell,  6,  Thos.  Vowell,  6,  William  Mar- 
bury,  1,  Wm.  Campbell,  10,  John  Laird,  18,  H.  Foxall,  1, 
Jonah  Thompson,  1,  A.  C  Casenove,  1,  Amsterdam  merchants, 
49,  James  Keith  jr.  10,  Lewis  G.  Davidson,  3,  John  K.  Smith, 
1,  455  shares. 

"Then  proceeded  to  the  election  of  president  and  directors 
to  manage  the  business  of  the  Company  for  the  ensuing  year, 
when  the  following  persons  were  unanimously  elected;  John 
Mason  Esqr.  president,  John  Laird,  Henry  Foxall,  Jonah 
Thompson  and  John  C.  Vowell  Esqrs.  directors. 

"Resolved;  That  the  president  and  directors  communicate 
to  the  Treasurer  of  Maryland  a  statement  of  the  receipts  and 
disbursements  of  the  Company  during  the  last  year,  and  to 
inform  him  of  the  inability  of  the  Company  to  comply  with 
the  Resolution  of  the  Legislature  of  that  State  in  relation  to 
the  immediate  payment  of  the  interest  which  has  accrued  on 
the  debt  due  it.  That  they  express  on  the  part  of  the  stock- 
holders the  hope  that  he  may  not  consider  himself  under  the 
late  resolution  of  the  State  compelled  to  bring  a  suit  against 
the  Company,  at  least  until  they  can  have  time  to  make  farther 
representations  to  the  Legislature  on  that  subject.^- 

" Resolved;  That  the  president  and  directors  present  a 
memorial  to  the  Legislature  of  Maryland  at  their  next  session 
setting  forth  the  deranged  state  of  the  funds  of  the  Company, 
the  state  of  the  navigation  and  a  view  of  the  facilities  afforded 
in  transportation  to  a  large  district  of  that  State,  and  praying 
for  the  forbearance  of  the  State  in  relation  to  the  present  debt, 
and  for  such  other  aid  as  the  State  may  have  in  its  power  to 
grant. 

"  See  appendix  D. 


The  Patowmack  Company.  125 

''Eesolved;  That  the  subject  of  the  letter  this  day  received 
from  Mr.  John  K.  Smith  in  relation  to  the  use  of  the  surplus 
water  at  the  Little  Falls  be  referred  to  the  President  and 
Directors,  who  may  call  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  if  they 
deem  it  necessary. 

"Ordered;  That  the  President  and  Directors  allow  Mr. 
Foxall  what  compensation  they  may  think  right  for  his  atten- 
tion to  the  locks  at  the  Little  Falls. 

"Resolved;  That  the  President  and  Directors  request  the 
board  of  works  of  the  State  of  Virginia  to  permit  their  prin- 
cipal Engineer  to  examine  the  works  executed  and  to  consider 
those  proposed  to  be  executed  on  the  river  Potomac  above  tide 
water,  and  to  explore  the  country  lying  between  the  waters 
of  the  Potomac  and  the  waters  of  the  Ohio,  with  a  \dew  to  the 
best  manner  of  improving  the  navigation  of  the  river  and  of 
facilitating  the  communication,  by  way  of  the  Potomac  with 
the  western  waters,  and  for  the  purpose  of  reporting  his 
observations  and  opinions  on  these  points  to  the  Board  of 
Works  and  to  the  Potowmack  Company. 

"Resolved;  That  the  President  and  Directors  apply  to  the 
Board  of  Works  of  Virginia,  or  to  the  Legislature  of  that 
State  to  authorize  the  Board  of  Works,  in  their  discretion  as 
may  be  the  proper  course  to  grant  such  aid  from  the  general 
fund  appropriated  for  such  purposes,  as  has  been  customary 
in  relation  to  similar  undertakings  and  the  interest  of  that 
State  may  appear. 

"(Signed,)         Wm.  Marburt." 

The  president  reported: 

"No  material  change  in  the  year.  From  the  state  of  funds 
the  Board  did  not  think  themselves  authorized  to  attempt  any 
thing  more  than  to  keep  the  present  works  in  repair.  The 
new  locks  at  Little  Falls  have  been  put  in  good  order.  The 
gates  to  the  lower  lock  at  Great  Falls  which  gave  way  during 
the  last  summer  have  been  entirely  renewed  and  well  secured, 
and  it  having  been  found  that  all  the  gates  of  the  other  locks 
there  are  decayed  and  liable  to  be  broken  down  and  interrupt 
navigation  it  was  determined  to  replace  them.  .  .  .  With  some 


126  The  Patowmack  Company. 

little  repairs  to  walls  the  whole  lockage  at  the  two  places  will 
be  in  good  order  and  likely  to  last  a  long  time.  Maryland 
extended  the  time  on  her  debt  provided  the  interest  was  paid 
to  July  last.  Unable  to  pay  the  interest  and  some  other  press- 
ing claims  for  making  locks,  deferred  action  to  general  meet- 
ing.    Tolls  colected  $12,514.  from  775  boats." 

In  November  the  board  agreed  with  J.  K.  Smith  to 
use  water  power  jointly  at  Little  Falls,  he  furnishing 
land  for  mill  sites,  they  surplus  water  for  power;  he 
agreed  to  erect  a  mill  at  once,  they  to  guard  against 
depletion  of  canal.  There  had  previously  been  a  large 
mill  property  at  this  point. 

B}^  the  House  of  Delegates,  Maryland,  Decenil)er  13, 
1819: 

"Whereas  the  State  of  Maryland  by  a  large  investment  in 
the  stock  of  the  Potowmack  Company  is  deeply  interested  in 
its  prosperity,  both  as  an  object  highly  beneficial  to  the  com- 
munity and  as  a  source  of  future  revenue  to  the  State,  and 
as  it  is  believed  that  by  the  consent  of  the  State  and  of  the 
stockholders  generally,  measures  might  be  adopted  to  advance 
the  improvement  and  completion  of  the  said  canal  so  as  to 
render  it  profitable  to  the  stockholders,  and  impart  greater 
advantages  to  the  State,  therefore ; — 

"Resolved, — That  the  president  and  directors  of  the  Potow- 
mack Company  be  requested  forth  with  to  lay  before  the  legis- 
lature such  information  relative  to  the  situation  of  the  Com- 
pany as  they  may  deem  important,  and  that  they  suggest  such 
plans  for  the  consideration  of  the  legislature  as  they  may  con- 
sider calculated  to  promote  the  interest  of  said  Company, 
and  State. 

' '  Resolved, — That  a  copy  of  the  above  preamble  and  resolu- 
tion be  forwarded  to  the  president  and  directors  of  the  Po- 
towmack Company." 

Eeply : 


The  Patowmack  Company.  127 

"To  THE  Honorable  President  op  the  Senate  and  the 
Honorable  Speaker  of  House  of  Delegates  of  the 
State  op  Maryland  ; 
'^  Gentlemen; — 

"In  obedience  to  the  joint  resolution  of  the  two  houses  of 
the  legislature  of  the  State  of  Maryland  passed  on  the  21st. 
of  last  month  and  by  instructions  from  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  the  Potowmack  Company  I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  fol- 
lowing communication ; — 

' '  On  the  one  hand  the  situation  of  the  Potowmack  Company 
in  its  relation  to  the  State  of  Maryland  as  a  stockholder,  as  in 
its  relation  to  all  the  other  stockholders,  is  at  present  far  from 
an  agreeable  one.  Loaded  with  an  heavy  debt,  it  has  not  had 
it  in  its  power  to  apply  any  of  its  large  receipts  in  the  way  of 
dividends  toward  retributing  them  for  the  capital  long  ago 
invested,  indeed  it  has  been  with  difficulty,  able  to  make  the 
requisite  repairs  in  its  extensive  works,  pay  indispensable  cur- 
rent expenses,  and  provide  in  part  for  the  interest  of  its 
debt. 

"On  the  other  hand,  the  situation  of  the  Company  in  rela- 
tion to  that  part  of  the  State  of  Maryland  w^hich  is  contiguous 
to  the  waters  of  the  upper  Potomac  and  to  all  the  community 
in  any  way  concerned  in  the  raising,  transportation  and  sale 
of  the  produce  of  the  extensive  and  fertile  country  bordering 
on  the  waters  on  either  side,  is  highly  favorable. 

"For  a  detail  of  those  advantages,  and  disadvantages,  as 
well  as  for  a  minute  description  of  the  nature  and  state  of 
the  works,  and  of  the  extent  of  the  improvements  on  the  river 
reference  is  respectfully  prayed  to  the  several  communications 
made  in  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Directors  for  the  information 
of  the  Legislature  on  the  30th  June  1818,  and  on  the  15th 
November  1819  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Western  Shore  of 
Maryland. 

"An  institution  that  shall  be  capable  of  facilitating  the 
transportation  of  such  vast  masses  of  the  products  of  agri- 
culture and  manufactures  and  of  the  objects  of  commerce  and 
which  furnishes  at  this  time  the  means  of  bearing  annually 
from  the  interior  of  the  country  to  tide  water  markets  produce 


128  The  Patowmack  Company. 

of  the  value  of  more  than  half  a  million  of  dollars,  and  at  a 
saving  in  the  carriage  of  at  least  $50,000  in  each  year,  can 
but  merit  the  patronage  and  the  assistance  of  the  State  whose 
country  is  pervaded  by  the  navigation  to  which  it  has  given 
rise. 

"And  accordingly  the  Potowmack  Company  from  its  origin 
to  this  time  has  received  from  both  the  states  of  ^Maryland 
and  Virginia  repeated  evidences  of  encouragement  and  favour. 

"The  affairs  of  the  Company  may  in  a  condensed  view  be 
presented  thus; — 

"The  capital  or  dividing  stock  is  made  up  of 

701  shares  of  £100  ster.  or  $444.44  each  $311,555.55 

of  which  the  State  of  :\Iaryland  holds  220  shares       97,777.77 

' '  The  State  of  Virginia  70  shares  retained  in 
its  own  right  &  50  presented  to  Gen.  Wash- 
ington  120  shares  53,333.33 

"Individuals         361      "  160,444.45 

"In  round  numbers  the  whole  sum  actually  ex- 
pended on  the  works  from  the  commencement 
of  the  operations  of  the  Company  in  1784  may 
be  stated  as  $670,000.00 

"And  the  debt  due  from  the  Company  including 
the  $30,000  and  interest  due  the  State  of  Mary- 
land, at  150,000.00 

' '  The  tolls  received  since  the  existence  of  the  Com- 
pany and  re-invested  in  carrying  on  the  works, 
except  the  small  sum  of  $3,890  once  divided  to 
the  stockholders, — amount  to  185,202.78 

"An  average  amount  of  tolls  now  received  may  be 

fairly  put  at  rather  more  than  less  than  15,000.00 

"If  then  new  subscriptions  were  opened  and  additional 
stock  was  taken  to  an  amount  sufficient  to  pay  the  debt  of  the 
Company  at  par,  or  at  the  rate  at  which  the  original  stock- 
holders came  in,  the  whole  amount  of  the  capital  or  of  the 
dividing  stock  would  be  about  $462,000,  on  which  (all  the 
expensive  and  important  parts  of  the  work  being  finished) 
the  tolls  received  would  now,  or  very  soon,  give,  after  paying 


The  Patowmach  Company.  129 

current  expenses,  a  dividend  of  3%  with  a  prospect  of  increase 
proportional  to  the  population  and  cultivation  of  the  upper 
country ;  but  however  advantageous  such  a  measure  would  be 
to  the  stockholders  generally,  by  bringing  their  inactive 
capital  into  use,  it  is  believed  that  such  is  the  present  extreme 
pressure  in  money  matters,  it  would  be  impossible  to  induce 
individuals  concerned  to  take  additional  stock,  and  if  this 
should  be  deemed  an  eligible  course  it  could  only  be  pursued 
by  means  of  additional  subscriptions  on  the  part  of  the  States 
of  ]\Iaryland  and  Virginia  for  the  whole  sum  requisite.  Or 
should  by  similar  acts  the  two  states  permit  the  stockholders 
in  general  meeting  to  open  subscriptions  for  new  stock  at  such 
rate  below  par  as  they  might  with  a  view  to  inviting  new 
subscriptions,  and  to  the  ultimate  interest  of  the  present 
stockholders  determine  on,  and  direct  the  respective  agents 
of  the  stockholders  to  take  a  considerable  portion  of  the  stock 
so  created,  it  is  possible  that  the  assent  of  the  stockholders  to 
a  reduction  in  the  price  of  such  additional  shares  might  be 
had,  and  that  the  sum  necessary  to  effect  the  object  might  be 
raised, 

' '  But  as  it  would  be  at  a  sacrifice,  to  a  certain  degree  of  the 
interests  of  those  who  originated  the  enterprise  and  advanced 
their  money  in  its  prosecution  more  than  thirty  years  ago  and 
since  on  former  occasions  when  new  subscriptions  were  opened 
the  original  stockholders  on  account  of  this  advance  had  re- 
quired that  the  shares  should  be  set  at  a  rate  considerably 
above  par  and  they  were  so  taken  up. 

"This  last  plan  is  suggested  with  much  diffidence. 

' '  With  very  great  respect  etc.  etc.  John  Mason 

"Note; — The  original  subscriptions  were  for  500  shares  of 
£100  ster.  each,  (of  which  twenty-nine  were  forfeited  and  sunk) 
there  were  two  other  subscriptions  opened  and  filled,  one  in 
1796  for  100  shares,  and  one  in  1798  for  130  shares,  the  last 
230  shares  were  taken  at  30%  above  par — that  is  at  £130  ster. 

"January  26,  1820." 

It  was  resolved  in  the  general  meeting  of  August, 
1820,  that 

01 


I30 


The  Patowmach  Company. 


"The  thanks  of  the  stock  holders  of  the  Potowmack  Com- 
pany be  presented  to  Mr.  Thos,  j\Ioore  for  the  trouble  he  has 
been  pleased  to  take  at  their  request  with  the  permission  of 
the  Board  of  "Works  of  Virginia  in  exploring  the  intermediate 
country  with  a  view  of  connecting  the  waters  of  the  Ohio  and 
Potomac  and  of  examining  the  navigation  and  the  works  on 
the  Potomac  and  particularly  for  the  able  and  important 
communication  he  has  recently  made  to  the  Company  on  these 
subjects,  and  that  the  President  and  Directors  express  to 
Mr.  Moore  the  high  sense  the  stockholders  entertain  of  his 
skill  as  an  engineer  and  of  the  great  worth  of  his  general 
character. '  '^^ 

"6th  of  August,  1821. 

"The  President  and  Directors  of  the  Potomac  Company 
beg  leave  to  submit  to  the  stockholders  in  general  meeting  con- 
vened the  following  report. 

"Since  the  last  general  meeting  nothing  material  has  oc- 
curred in  the  affairs  of  the  Company,  except  the  appointment 
by  the  States  of  Virginia  and  JMaryland  of  a  board  of  commis- 
sioners to  perform  certain  duties  in  relation  to  the  Company, 
which  circumstance  will  be  more  particularly  noticed  before 
the  conclusion  of  this  report. 

"Everything  in  the  power  of  the  Directors  has  been  done 
to  preserve  the  works  in  good  repair,  and  to  keep  the  naviga- 
tion at  least  in  as  favorable  a  state  as  it  has  been  of  late  years. 

"The  pair  of  decayed  lock  gates  at  the  Great  Falls,  which 
at  the  time  of  the  last  report,  remained  only  to  be  replaced 
have  been  now  completed  and  well  hung.  At  the  head  of  the 
canal  at  that  place  (mentioned  by  the  engineer  of  the  board 
of  w^orks  of  the  State  of  Virginia  on  his  examination  of  the 
summer  of  1820)  there  was  a  deficiency  of  water,  as  compared 
with  that  usually  in  the  river  above,  since  then  the  wing  dam 
at  that  place  has  been  considerably  raised  and  extended,  the 
work  has  been  done  in  a  stable  manner,  and  the  canal  cleansed, 
so  that  now  the  whole  line  of  eanaling  and  lockage  of  that 
important  pass,   is  in  complete  order,  and  well  capable  of 

^  See  appendix  r^    \^ 


View  of  the  Potomac  River  from  the  Fifth  Lock  at  the  Great  Falls 
(Charcoal  Drawing  by  Miss  Milicent  Strange) 


The  Patowmack  Company.  131 

receiving  and  delivering  all  boats  that  can  navigate  the  river 
in  its  present  state  of  imi^rovement.  On  the  Seneca  canal 
some  work  has  been  done  in  clearing  it  of  the  collection  of  drift 
timber  and  of  the  stone  and  gravel  that  the  freshes  had 
deposited  there.  At  the  Little  Falls  the  works  are  in  good 
repair,  the  canal  has  for  some  time  been  gradually  filling  up 
by  means  of  ordinary  deposit  and  the  wash  from  the  hills,  and 
though  no  material  delays  or  injuries  have  as  yet  been  experi- 
enced from  this  circumstance,  it  has  become  necessary  to  pro- 
vide against  it ;  to  facilitate  the  cleansing  of  this  and  the  canal 
at  the  Great  Falls  the  Directors  have  determined  to  build  a 
small  mud-machine  to  be  worked  by  manual  labor,  calculated  to 
save  both  time  and  expense  in  an  operation  which  must  from 
the  nature  of  the  case  be  frequently  repeated.  This  machine 
is  now  on  hand,  and  it  is  expected  will  be  at  work  during  the 
low  water  of  the  present  season.  The  navigation  has  been 
carried  on  during  the  last  season  as  usual  and  without  inter- 
ruption. 

"By  the  return  of  the  Treasurer  numbered  one,  and  here- 
with submitted,  will  be  shown  the  number  of  boats  employed 
and  the  kinds  and  quantities  of  produce  and  merchandise 
transported,  with  their  estimated  value,  and  that  the  tolls 
collected  thereon  have  amounted  during  the  year  ending  on 
the  first  day  of  this  month  to  $12,490.61.  For  the  receipts 
and  disbursements  of  the  Company  during  the  same  period 
and  for  the  present  state  of  the  debt  of  the  Company,  refer- 
ence is  prayed  to  the  statements  numbered  2,  3  and  4  and  filed 
as  making  part  of  this  report. 

"The  President  and  Directors  can  but  call  the  particular 
attention  of  the  Stockholders  to  the  late  step  so  important  to 
their  -interests  taken  as  before  intimated  by  the  States  of  Vir- 
ginia and  Maryland;  they  have  procured  and  herewith  lay 
before  the  meeting  for  the  better  understanding  of  that  sub- 
ject, the  act  of  the  Virginia  Legislature  passed  the  27tli  of 
January  last,  and, the  corresponding  resolutions  passed  by  the 
Legislature  of  Maryland  on  the  16th  of  February  following; 
and  they  have  to  add  that  it  is  known  tliat  in  pursuance  with 
these  legislative  provisions  the  executives  of  those  states  have 


132  The  Patowmack  Company. 

respectively  appointed  two  commissioners,  men  of  high  stand- 
ing and  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  the  waters  of  the  Potomac. 
"No  official  communication  has  as  yet  been  received  from 
the  commissioners,  but  it  is  presumed  that  it  cannot  be  long 
before  they  will  enter  on  the  duties  assigned  them  and  that  the 
Company  will  be  called  on  for  such  information  relative  to  its 
affairs  as  they  may  desire  to  possess.  At  the  last  general  meet- 
ing the  President  and  Directors  made  a  full  exposition  of 
the  then  state  of  the  differences  existing  between  the  Company 
and  Mr.  John  Kelly  Smith  in  relation  to  the  Company's  rights 
and  privileges  on  the  river  at  and  near  the  canal  at  the  Little 
Falls,  since  then  thej'  have  not  heard  any  thing  further  from 
Mr.  Smith  or  his  agents  upon  the  subject. 

"(Signed)         J.  Mason 

Jonah  Thompson 
John  Laird 
Jno.  C.  Vowell" 

"August  5,  1822.    Annual  Report. 

"To  the  Stockholders  of  the  Potomac  Company  the  Presi- 
dent and  Directors  respectfully  report; — 

"That  during  the  last  year  the  works  of  the  Company  and 
the  navigation  of  the  river  have  under  gone  no  material 
changes — As  usual  the  transportation  by  this  channel  has 
been  considerable  and  constant  at  all  times  but  the  driest 
seasons  and  during  the  hard  frost. 

"On  the  works  some  repairs  have  become  necessary.  In 
two  of  the  locks  at  the  Great  Falls  the  walls  had  partially 
given  way,  and  the  canal  at  the  Little  Falls  had  become  so 
filled  with  sediment  as  to  threaten  an  interruption  to  the 
navigation.  The  opportunity  of  the  present  dry  season  has 
been  improved  to  rebuild  the  walls  at  the  Great  Falls,  and  to 
cleanse  the  canal  and  repair  the  sluice  gates  and  wing  dam 
at  the  Little  Falls.  Without  accident  the  whole  will  be  com- 
pleted during  the  present  month  in  an  effectual  and  perma- 
nent manner.  * 

"The  annexed  exhibits  from  the  Treasurer  will  show  in 
detail  the  present  state  of  the  affairs  of  the  Company. 


The  Patowmack  Company.  I33 

"The  annual  report  of  the  state  of  the  works  and  of  the 
moniecl  concerns  of  the  Company  as  required  by  a  law  of  the 
state  of  Virginia  from  all  the  incorporated  companies  in  which 
that  state  has  an- interest,  was  made  by  order  of  the  President 
and  Directors  on  the  5th  day  of  December  last,  a  copy  of  which 
is  herewith  furnished. 

"Within  the  last  few  months  communications  have  been 
received  from  the  agent  of  the  state  of  Maryland  for  the  West- 
ern Shore  respecting  the  debt  due  to  it  from  the  Company, 
and  from  the  Treasurer  of  the  new  Shenandoah  Company 
inviting  the  attention  of  the  Potowmack  Company,  as  a  matter 
of  policy,  to  the  question  of  reducing  the  tolls,  in  conjunction 
with  the  Shenandoah  Company,  on  articles  shipped  on  the 
Shenandoah  river.  Both  these  subjects  having  been  deemed 
by  the  Board  of  Directors  as  proper  to  be  submitted  to  the 
consideration  of  the  Stockholders,  were  laid  over  for  their  in- 
structions, and  they  are  now  accordingly  submitted. 

' '  In  the  month  of  January  last  a  letter  was  addressed  to  the 
President  of  the  Potowmack  Company  by  the  chairman  of  a 
committee  of  the  House  of  Delegates  of  the  state  of  Maryland  re- 
questing information  on  various  points  relative  to  the  affairs  of 
the  Company,  and  asking  his  opinion  of  a  plan  proposed  to  be 
submitted  to  the  legislature  of  that  state  for  the  improvement 
of  the  navigation  of  Potomac  river ;  to  which  letter  an  imme- 
diate reply  w^as  made,  and  the  information  required,  fur- 
nished.    Copies  of  these  papers  are  annexed  to  this  report. 

' '  The  President  of  the  Company  on  this  occasion  begs  leave 
to  remark,  that  in  making  up  the  opinion  which  he  was  called 
upon  to  give,  as  well  from  the  tenor  of  the  letter  of  the  chair- 
man of  the  committee,  as  from  a  knowledge  that  the  Legis- 
lature was  about  to  rise,  there  being  no  time  allowed  to  consult 
the  stockholders  or  even  to  call  a  Board  of  Directors  at  that 
inclement  season  of  the  year,  he  was  compelled  to  act  on  his 
own  judgment,  and  he  humbly  trusts  that  the  opinion  he  has 
thus  given,  and  the  plan  he  has  ventured  to  suggest,  may  be 
received  by  the  Stockholders,  as  arising  from  the  proper 
motives  and  the  best  consideration  he  was  able  on  such  short 


134  ^^'^  Fatowmack  Company. 

notice  to  give  the  subject.  At  any  rate  it  will  be  perceived 
that  in  the  manner  these  were  given,  they  can  in  no  way 
commit  the  Company. 

' '  The  commissioners  appointed  by  the  state's  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland  to  perform  certain  duties  having  relation  to  the 
navigation  of  the  Potomac  and  the  affairs  of  the  Company, 
as  stated  in  the  report  made  by  the  Board  of  Directors  to  the 
last  general  meeting  of  the  Stockholders,  did  not  convene 
during  the  last  year  owing  as  was  understood  to  some  infor- 
mality in  the  proceedings  of  one  of  the  states,  leading  to  their 
appointment. 

"They  held  their  first  meeting  in  the  beginning  of  last 
month  at  Georgetown  and  after  a  session  of  a  few  days  ad- 
journed to  meet  about  the  middle  of  that  month  at  Cumber- 
land, for  the  purpose  of  entering  on  the  examination  of  the 
state  of  navigation  of  the  river,  and  of  the  works  of  the 
Company,  in  which  examination,  attended  by  the  principal 
engineer  of  the  Board  of  works  of  Virginia,  it  is  believed 
they  are  now  engaged, 

"During  the  late  session  of  the  commissioners  in  George 
Town,  in  compliance  with  the  instructions  of  the  Stockholders, 
documents  and  papers  from  the  office  of  the  Company,  were 
furnished  them,  giving  information  on  all  the  points  relative 
to  which  it  was  required ;  which  information  is  now  preparing 
to  be  handed  them  in  an  official  communication  and  particular 
form  at  their  request. 

"The  farther  improvement  of  the  Potomac  river  was 
brought  to  the  view  of  Congress  at  the  last  session  by  several 
reports  of  committees,  the  most  important  of  which  was  from 
the  committee  of  the  District  of  Columbia  made  on  sundry 
memorials  of  the  inhabitants  of  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and 
Virginia  praying  the  aid  of  the  Federal  Government  toward 
that  object.  This  lengthy  and  luminous  document  has  been 
recently  published. — The  President  and  Directors  think  it 
proper  to  call  the  attention  of  the  general  meeting  to  it  and 
particularly  to  that  part  of  it,  in  which  it  is  proposed  to  engraft, 
by  means  of  the  necessary  alterations  in  the  charter,  a  new 
Company  on  the  present  one,  and  to  supercede  the  use  of  the 


The  PatowmacJc  Company.  I35 

natural  bed  of  the  river,  by  a  resort  to  a  navigable  canal 
from  tide  water  to  Cumberland. 

' '  The  President  and  Directors  before  concluding  this  report 
beg  leave  to  congratulate  the  Stockholders  on  the  many  evi- 
dences lately  given  of  the  interest  in  the  completion  of  this 
navigation  which  has  been  excited  as  well  in  the  Legislatures 
of  the  states  of  Virginia  and  Maryland  as  in  Congress  and  the 
neighboring  community,  and  which  they  can  but  hope  will 
lead  to  a  favorable  result. 

"(Signed)         J.  Mason 

Jonah  Thompson 
Jno.  C.  Vowell" 

And  here  the  records  of  the  Patowmack  Company 
end.  Whether  no  board  meetings  were  after  held,  or 
whether  the  records  were  not  preserved  may  not  now 
be  known.  The  subsequent  proceedings  of  the  com- 
pany are  given  in  the  annual  reports  of  the  president 
and  directors  only.  The  last  recorded  order  is  for  the 
payment  of  the  usual  pension  to  the  blind  laborer. 

Annual,  Report  op  1823. 

"The  President  and  Directors  of  the  Potomac  Company  in 
this  their  annual  report  beg  leave  respectfully  to  state  to  the 
stockholders,  That  the  works  of  the  Company  and  the  naviga- 
tion of  the  river  are  in  quite  as  good  a  state  as  usual  of  late 
years.  The  repairs  to  the  locks  at  Great  Falls,  mentioned  as 
requisite  in  the  last  annual  report  have  been  completed.  At 
the  Little  Falls,  the  canal  has  been  cleansed,  the  banks  re- 
paired and  three  pairs  of  new  sluice  gates  inserted  to  great 
advantage,  in  preventing  the  accumulation  of  foreign  matter 
in  the  canal.  The  canals  at  Seneca  Falls  and  Harpers  Ferry 
have  also  been  rendered  better  capable  of  navigation  by 
repairs  and  removing  the  loose  stone  from  them.  Some  work 
has  also  been  done  in  refitting  the  sluiceways  and  wing  dams 
on  different  parts  of  the  river. 

"The  exhibits  from  the  Treasurer  herewith  submitted  give 
a  detailed  view  of  the  affairs  of  the  Company.  .  .  . 


136  The  Patowmack  Company. 

"The  resolution  of  the  stockholders  passed  at  their  last 
annual  meeting  in  consequence  of  the  application  of  the  agent 
of  the  State  of  Maryland  for  payment  of  the  debt  due  to  that 
state,  was  communicated  as  directed  to  the  agent ;  suit  was  it 
appears,  notwithstanding,  ordered  by  him,  and  the  subject 
Avas  about  to  be  taken  up  by  the  legislature  of  Maryland,  of 
which  proceeding  having  been  advised  by  a  person  then  at- 
tending the  legislature  on  the  part  of  the  Company  and 
apprehending  a  course  hostile  to  the  interests  of  the  Company, 
the  President  and  Directors  immediately  forwarded  a  peti- 
tion to  that  legislature,  which  was  fortunately  presented  in 
time,  and  was  the  means  of  obtaining  the  farther  indulgence 
to  the  Company.  As  a  sequel  to  the  information  submitted 
to  the  stockholders  at  their  meetings  in  February  last,  in  rela- 
tion to  the  proceedings  of  the  legislatures  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland,  then  in  session,  on  the  subject  of  the  contemplated 
incorporation  of  a  new  company  under  certain  stipulations 
with  the  existing  company,  for  the  purpose  of  cutting  a  canal 
to  be  supplied  by  the  waters  of  the  Potomac  and  its  tributary 
streams  from  the  highest  practicable  point  in  the  North 
Branch  to  tide  water,  the  President  and  Directors  have  to 
state,  that  in  Virginia  a  law  passed  for  the  incorporation  of 
a  new  company,  the  provisions  of  which  will  be  seen  by  the 
printed  act;  and  the  circumstances  of  its  connection  with 
the  existing  company  will  be  explained  by  the  report  of  James 
M.  Mason  who  attended  the  legislature  of  that  state  by 
appointment  of  the  Board  of  Directors  as  agent  of  the 
Company. 

' '  In  Llaryland  after  several  weeks '  discussion  and  the  meas- 
ure having  assumed  in  the  committee  of  the  whole  of  the 
House  of  Delegates  the  shape  exhibited  in  the  bill  no.  57  after 
some  of  the  provisions  deemed  by  its  friends  most  valuable 
had  been  stricken  out  by  a  vote  of  the  House,  the  bill  was 
withdrawn  by  the  members  in  the  Powtomack  interest. 

' '  Great  interest  has  been  excited  in  both  states  on  this  ques- 
tion of  the  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  upper 
Potomac  by  means  of  an  independent  canal,  and  there  can  be 
no  doubt  that  it  will  be  renewed  at  the  next  session  of  the 


The  Patowmock  Company.  I37 

Maryland  legislature  and  possibly  in  some  shape  in  the  Vir- 
ginia legislature.  It  is  plain  from  the  communications  had 
with  the  legislatures  of  those  states  at  their  last  sessions,  and 
from  the  nature  of  the  case,  that  whenever  it  becomes  a  matter 
for  legislation,  the  interests  of  this  Company  must  be  deeply 
involved. 

"It  will  be  seen  by  the  report  of  the  commissioners  ap- 
pointed by  the  two  states  to  examine  the  affairs  of  the  Patow- 
maek  Company,  the  state  of  the  navigation  of  the  river,  &c. 
made  last  winter  that  they  strongly  intimate  that  a  new  com- 
pany may  be  legallj^  and  equitably  established  by  law  to  effect 
the  proposed  work,  without  any  provision  for,  or  remunera- 
tion to  that  Company  or  its  creditors.  Without  undertaking 
here  to  combat  this  opinion  which  the  President  and  Directors 
must  regard  as  unfounded,  they  will  only  remark,  that  so  far 
as  the  legislatures  of  the  states  concerned  have  acted,  more 
liberal  views  of  the  subject  have  been  taken. 

"The  President  and  Directors  beg  leave  to  call  particular 
attention  of  the  stockholders  to  this  point,  they  can  but  con- 
sider it  of  great  importance  under  the  peculiar  circumstances 
of  the  case,  as  well  to  the  community  as  to  the  Company  and 
its  creditors,  that  measures  should  be  taken  to  determine  and 
to  make  known  thro'  some  channel  to  the  legislature  of  Mary- 
land and  if  necessary  to  that  of  Virginia,  on  what  terms  this 
Company  will  by  agreement  consent  to  surrender  its  charter, 
and  inasmuch  as  its  funds  are  exhausted  and  its  debts  pressing 
however  it  may  have  law  and  right  on  its  side,  the  President 
and  Directors  beg  leave  to  recommend  that  the  conditions  so 
proposed  be  of  the  most  moderate  and  conciliatory  nature. 
"All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted." 

The  submitted  copy  of  the  following  valuable  report 
with  its  various  enclosures  is  not  to  be  found.  Tliis  is 
from  the  original  draft  by  John  Mason. 

"August  2d,  1824. 

"The  President  and  Directors,  to  the  stockholders  of  the 
Potomac  Company,  in  general  meeting  assembled,  respect- 
fully report ; — 


138  The  Patowmack  Company. 

"That  since  the  last  annual  meeting  nothing  material  as  to 
the  condition  of  the  works  on  the  river  has  occurred,  no  change 
of  any  importance  has  been  made  in  them,  and  they  have  been 
kept  at  a  small  expense,  in  the  usual  repair. 

"The  documents  furnished  by  the  Treasurer  of  the  Com- 
pany herewith  exhibited,  and  numbered  from  one  to  four, 
show  in  detail  the  present  state  of  its  affairs. 

' '  No.  1  shows  the  number  of  boats  and  the  tonnage  that  have 
been  employed,  the  tolls  received  and  the  estimated  value  of 
the  articles  from  which  they  were  collected  during  the  year 
ending  on  the  first  of  Aug.  1824. 

"No.  2  is  a  statement  of  the  quantity  and  kinds  of  produce 
and  manufactures  transported  from  the  upper  country  within 
the  same  period. 

"No.  3  gives  a  particular  account  of  the  disbursements  of 
money  made  in  that  year. 

"No.  4  is  a  table  of  the  debts  of  the  Company  in  which  is  set 
forth  the  several  sums  due,  to  whom  owing  and  the  total 
amount  as  struck  on  the  1st.  of  Aug.  1824. 

"A  copy  of  the  report  as  required  by  law  made  by  the 
President  and  Directors  to  the  Board  of  Works  of  the  State 
of  Virginia  is  also  su])mitted. 

"In  their  last  annual  report  the  President  and  Directors 
ventured  to  state  an  opinion  that  great  interest  had  been 
excited  in  the  neighboring  community  relative  to  the  improve- 
ment of  the  navigation  of  the  upper  Potomac,  by  means  of 
an  independent  canal.  In  this  they  have  not  been  mistaken. 
In  the  month  of  November  last,  as  no  doubt  is  known  to  most 
of  the  stockholders,  a  number  of  highly  respected  citizens, 
regularly  delegated  from  many  of  the  counties  of  Virginia 
and  Maryland,  from  Pennsylvania  and  from  the  District  of 
Columbia,  convened  in  the  city  of  "Washington ;  and  being 
duly  organized  as  a  deliberative  body,  discussed  for  several 
days,  with  great  zeal  and  ability,  not  only  that  branch  of  the 
subject  but  also  the  practicability  and  propriety  of  connecting 
the  waters  of  the  Ohio  with  those  of  the  Potomac  by  a  canal 
to  be  extended  from  the  eastern  base  of  the  Alleghany  across 
the  mountain;  the  proceedings  of  this  important  convention 


The  Patowmack  Company.  I39 

terminated  in  the  passage  of  a  number  of  appropriate  resolu- 
tions, and  the  appointment  of  several  standing  committees  to 
carry  them  into  effect.  A  copy  of  these  resolutions,  together 
with  the  other  proceedings  of  the  convention,  is  now  laid 
before  this  meeting.  It  will  be  observed  that  in  more  than  one 
point  of  view  they  have  an  essential  bearing  on  the  interests 
of  this  Company, 

"In  consequence  of  petitions  from  the  committees  of  the 
convention,  acts  were  passed  during  the  past  winter,  by  the 
legislatures  of  both  Virginia  and  Maryland,  for  incorporating 
a  new  company  to  make  a  navigable  canal  from  the  tide  water 
of  the  Potomac  in  the  District  of  Columbia  to  the  mouth  of 
Savage  Creek,  on  the  north  branch  of  said  river,  and  extend- 
ing thence  across  the  Alleghany  mountains  to  some  convenient 
point  on  the  navigable  waters  of  the  Ohio  or  some  of  its 
tributary  streams,  nearly  on  the  plan  recommended  by  the 
convention.  But  as  in  as  much  as  in  the  act  of  Maryland, 
certain  qualifications  were  annexed  to  some  of  the  provisions 
of  that  of  Virginia  which  qualifications  were  not  afterwards 
acted  on  by  the  legislature  of  Virginia,  and  since  no  assent 
(as  required  by  the  acts  of  Virginia  and  Maryland)  has  as 
yet  been  given  by  the  legislature  of  Pennsjdvania,  or  by  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  to  the  provisions  of  these  acts, 
both  of  them  remain  inoperative.  By  a  reference  to  the  said 
acts  of  Virginia  and  T»Iaryland  it  will  be  found,  that  it  is 
expressly  provided,  that  they  shall  not  take  effect  until  the 
assent  of  the  Potowmack  Company  shall  have  been  formally 
signified,  and  it  will  be  seen  on  what  terms  it  is  proposed  that 
it  shall  surrender  its  rights  to,  and  amalgamate  its  interests 
with,  those  of  the  new  company;  the  stockholders  will  thus 
be  enabled  to  determine  how  far  it  may  be  expedient  at  this 
time,  to  take  order  on  the  subject.  The  Board  of  Directors 
from  all  that  has  passed,  can  but  believe  that  whatever  course 
this  matter  may  ultimately  take,  a  fair  and  liberal  provision 
will  be  made,  as  well  for  the  direct  interest  of  this  Company, 
which  has  so  long  toiled  for  the  good  of  the  community,  as  for 
that  of  its  creditors  who  have  furnished  money  for  the  ad- 
vencement  of  the  object. 


140  The  PatowmacTc  Company. 

"The  President  and  Directors  take  particular  pleasure  in 
remarking,  as  a  strong  evidence  of  the  impetus  which  has 
been  given  by  public  opinion  on  this  subject,  that  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  in  his  message  to  Congress  at  the 
commencement  of  last  session,  took  occasion  to  mention,  in 
approbatory  terms,  the  convention  of  citizens  which  had  then 
recently  taken  place  to  discuss  the  question  of  the  Potomac 
and  Ohio  canals;  and  to  call  the  attention  of  Congress  to  this 
among  other  objects  of  internal  improvements,  that  the  result 
was,  that  Congress  in  April  last  passed  an  act,  authorizing 
the  President  to  employ  skilful  engineers,  and  such  of  the 
officers  of  the  corps  of  engineers  and  others  whom  he  might 
cause  to  be  detailed  on  that  duty,  to  make  the  necessary  sur- 
veys, plans  and  estimates  of  the  routes  of  such  roads  and 
canals,  as  he  might  deem  of  national  importance,  in  a  com- 
mercial or  military  point  of  view,  and  that  soon  after  the 
President  designated,  as  the  first  object  to  be  attended  to, 
under  this  act,  the  route  of  the  canals  recommended  by  the 
convention  and  adopted  by  the  legislatures  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland  as  before  stated,  and  he  appointed  a  most  able  and 
efficient  body  of  engineers,  civil  and  military,  who  are  now 
actually  employed  in  exploring  the  summit  level  between  the 
head  waters  of  the  Potomac  and  Ohio,  and  in  tracing  and 
taking  the  levels  of  their  several  tributaries,  from  Avhich  it  is 
expected  the  projected  canals  may  be  fed, 

' '  On  all  which,  as  leading  to  the  consumation  of  the  original 
views  of  this  Company,  the  President  and  Directors  beg  leave 
to  congratulate  the  stockholders,  and  to  express  a  firm  belief, 
that  the  day  is  not  distant,  when  with  the  aid  of  the  general 
government  and  of  the  government  of  the  contiguous  states, 
this  great  work  will  be  undertaken. 

"(Signed)         J.  Mason 

Jonah  Thompson 
Jno.  C.  Vowtell" 

On  the  27th  day  of  January,  1824,  the  legislature  of 
Virginia  passed  an«  act  incorporating  the  Chesapeake 
and  Ohio  Canal  Company  which  should  become  law 


Gen.  John  Mason,  Last  President  or  Patowmack  Company 
(From  Portrait  in  Possession  of  Mrs.  Y.  C.  Dawson) 


The  Fatowmach  Company.  141 

when  assent  should  be  given  to  its  terms  by  Maryland, 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States  and  by  the  stock- 
holders of  the  Patowmack  Company,  Subscriptions  to 
the  new  stock  might  be  paid  in  Patowmack  stock  at  par 
or  in  the  dul}^  authenticated  claims  of  its  creditors, 
provided  that  the  certificates  of  stock  shall  not  exceed 
in  the  whole  amount  the  sum  of  $311,111.11,  nor  the 
claims  the  sum  of  $175,800.00. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  stockholders  on  the  16tli 
of  May,  1825,  assent  was  given  to  the  propositions  of 
Virginia. 

Annual  Report  op  1825. 

"To  the  Stockholders  of  the  Potowmack  Company,  the 
President  and  Directors  beg  leave  to  report. 

"That  the  last  year  the  navigation  in  the  several  parts  of 
the  river  has  been  kept  in  nearly  its  usual  state,  with  very 
little  expense,  that  latterly  however,  it  has  become  somewhat 
obstructed  by  the  partial  falling  of  the  walls  of  some  of  the 
canals,  and  by  deposit  of  mud  in  others,  as  well  as  from  decay 
on  some  of  the  lock  gates,  to  remedy  which  and  to  make  the 
necessary  repairs,  preparations  are  now  making  in  order  to 
take  advantage  of  the  present  low  water.  It  is  believed  the 
disbursements  required  to  effect  all  that  is  wanting  will  not 
be  considerable. 

"The  papers  numbered  one  to  five  furnished  by  the  Treas- 
urer and  annexed  to  this  report  are  respectfully  referred  to, 
for  the  state  of  the  Company's  affairs  in  detail.  .  .  . 

"In  compliance  with  one  of  the  resolutions  of  the  stock- 
holders passed  at  the  general  meeting  held  on  the  16th  of 
]\Iay  last,  as  soon  as  the  requisite  papers  could  be  prepared, 
the  President  of  the  Company  transmitted  to  the  Executives 
of  Virginia  and  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  respectively  and 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States  authen- 
ticated copies  of  so  much  of  the  proceedings  of  that  meeting 
as  went  to  declare  the  full  and  free  assent  of  the  Potowmack 
Company  to  the  act  of  the  state  of  Virginia  passed  at  the 
December  session  in  the  year  1823  entitled  'An  act  incor- 


142  The  PatowmacJc  Company. 

porating  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Company'  and  as  went 
toward  providing  for  the  surrender,  at  the  proper  time,  of 
the  charter  of  the  Potowmack  Company  to  the  same  Chesa- 
peake and  Ohio  Canal  Company,  as  will  be  more  particularly 
seen  by  reference  to  the  recorded  copies  of  the  several  letters 
addressed  to  the  Governors  of  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Penn- 
sylvania and  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  In  conse- 
quence of  which  communications  on  the  part  of  the  Company 
commissioners  have  been  appointed  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  by  the  executive  of  the  state  of  Maryland  and 
by  the  executive  of  the  state  of  Virginia  for  causing  books  to 
be  opened  for  receiving  subscriptions  to  the  capital  stock  of 
the  company  to  be  incorporated,  as  contemplated  by  the  act 
of  Virginia  before  recited  and  by  the  acts  of  ]\Iaryland  and  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States  connected  therewith.  From 
Pennsylvania  nothing  has  been  heard  on  the  subject.  .  .  . 

"The  resolution  of  the  general  meeting  which  required  the 
President  should  give  notice  to  the  creditors  of  the  Company  of 
its  determination  to  surrender  its  charter,  and  of  the  alternative 
given  them  in  relation  to  their  debts,  by  the  proposed  charter 
of  the  new  company,  and  that  he  should  furnish  the  creditors 
with  the  actual  state  and  prospects  of  the  Company,  in  order 
to  enable  them  the  better  to  judge  as  to  the  option  reserved  to 
them,  &c.  has  been  so  far  complied  with  as  that  the  whole 
proceedings  bearing  on  the  question,  authenticated  by  the 
certificate  of  the  treasurer  and  clerk  of  the  Company  have 
been  published  in  the  newspapers.  The  action  on  the  last 
part  of  that  resolution  has  been  postponed  until  by  the  settle- 
ments made  at  the  close  of  the  year  just  ending,  a  more  accu- 
rate view  could  be  given,  to  the  creditors,  of  the  state  of  the 
affairs  of  the  Company  and  of  its  prospects. 

"A  copy  of  the  last  annual  report  made  by  the  President 
and  Directors  (as  required  by  law  of  the  state  of  Virginia) 
to  the  Board  of  Works  of  that  state,  is  annexed,  for  the  infor- 
mation of  the  stockholders. 

' '  The  President  and  Directors  ought  not  to  close  this  report 
without  bringing  to  the  view  of  the  stockholders,  a  very 
extraordinary  occurrence  which  has  recently  taken  place  in 


The  Patowmack  Company.  143 

relation  to  the  disposable  funds  of  the  Company  by  which 
they  have  been  completely  deprived,  for  the  present  year  at 
least,  of  every  dollar  they  had  in  hand.  The  transaction 
alluded  to  is  the  actual  seizing  upon  and  withholding  from 
the  treasurer,  the  whole  amount  of  his  deposits  in  one  of  the 
banks  of  this  town  by  the  officers  of  that  institution,  not  only 
against  all  custom  and  propriety  on  such  occasions,  but  against 
a  positive  agreement  on  that  subject,  as  will  be  shown, 

"In  the  month  of  March  last  a  deposit  was  made  in  the 
Union  Bank  of  this  town  under  an  express  agreement  with  the 
officers  of  the  bank  which  was  from  time  to  time  increased 
until  the  sum  was  considerable.  During  the  month  of  July 
a  check  was  drawn  for  a  part  of  the  sum  then  there  at  his 
credit,  by  the  treasurer,  which  having  been  refused,  the  case 
as  it  then  stood  was  referred  to  Board  of  Directors,  who  di- 
rected that  the  entire  balance  lying  in  that  bank  belonging 
to  the  Company,  should  be  withdrawn  and  deposited  in  the 
Farmers  and  Mechanics  Bank  of  Georgetown.  A  check  was 
accordingly  drawn  on  the  same  day — to  wit,  the  13th  July  ult. 
and  presented  for  said  balance  which  being  refused,  it  was 
put  into  the  hands  of  a  notary  public  and  being  again  refused 
to  him  on  formal  presentation  it  was  protested.  Whereupon 
by  order  of  the  Board  a  letter  was  addressed  on  July  18  by 
the  Treasurer  to  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Union  Bank 
remonstrating  against  the  transaction  and  claiming  their  in- 
terference. 

' '  No  answer  having  been  received  from  the  Directors  of  that 
bank,  and  it  having  been  understood  that  it  had  happened 
that  a  sufficient  number  of  members  had  not  since  the  date 
of  that  letter  met  to  form  a  board,  the  President  of  the  Com- 
pany by  instruction  from  the  Board  addressed  on  the  29th 
July  a  letter  to  the  president  of  the  Union  Bank  requesting 
him  to  call  a  special  board  to  act  upon  the  subject.  Nothing 
has  since  been  heard  from  him,  and  it  is  understood  that  a 
board  has  not  been  called. 

"For  a  better  understanding  of  the  detail  of  this  matter 
reference  is  prayed  to  the  minute  made  by  the  treasurer  on 


144  ^^^^  Patowmack  Company. 

tlie  day  book  under  date  31st  March  and  13tli  July  and  corre- 
spondence recorded. 

''All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted 

"(Signed)         J.  Mason,  Presf. 
"Jno.  C.  Yowell,  Jonah  Thompson,  C.  O'Neil,  J.  Laird." 

"Annual  Report  of  1826. 

"The  President  and  Directors  beg  leave  respectfully  to 
report : — • 

' '  That  in  order  to  keep  up  the  navigation  on  the  lower  part 
of  the  river  it  became  indispensably  necessary  since  the  last 
annual  meeting  to  effect  considerable  repairs  to  the  works  at 
the  Little  Falls,  the  canal  which  had  not  been  cleaned  out 
for  several  years  was  during  the  last  season  cleaned  out  for 
its  whole  length,  the  wall  at  its  entrance  has  been  repaired 
and  heightened,  the  boat  course  at  its  mouth  cleaned  of  the 
rocks  which  obstructed  the  passage  of  boats,  one  of  the 
tumbling  dams  has  been  made  good  from  its  foundation,  and 
other  necessary  repairs  have  been  completed.  Also  contracts 
have  been  made  for  the  immediate  erection  of  a  new  pair  of 
upper  gates  and  for  the  framing  of  other  gates  to  be  in  readi- 
ness in  case  of  accident  or  sudden  dis-repair. 

"At  the  Great  Falls  the  lowermost  pair  of  lock  gates,  the 
largest  and  most  important  of  the  works  at  that  place  have 
been  replaced  by  a  new  pair  of  substantial  materials  and  good 
workmanship.  A  new  waste  water  sluice  of  stone  masonry 
has  been  built,  the  entire  canal  cleaned  out  and  the  wing  wall 
at  the  entrance  has  been  repaired  and  heightened  so  as  to 
afford  eighteen  inches  more  water  in  a  low  stage  of  the  river 
than  heretofore. 

' '  The  sluices  and  dams  between  the  Great  Falls  and  Seneca 
canal  were  repaired  and  rebuilt  so  far  as  the  season  would 
admit  and  the  passage  through  Seneca  canal  has  been  consid- 
erably improved. 

' '  The  usual  statements  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Company  are 
presented  as  part  of  this  report  and  as  exhibits  of  the  affairs 
to  the  Company  in  detail,  numberd  1  to  5.  .  .  . 


The  Patowmack  Company.  145 

"In  compliance  with  the  resolution  of  the  last  annual  meet- 
ing and  under  the  advice  of  the  counsel  of  the  Company,  meas- 
ures were  taken  by  the  President  and  Directors  to  recover 
possession  of  the  funds  improperly  withheld  by  the  Union 
Bank,  and  after  having  made  a  formal  demand  of  the  deposit 
and  restoration  being  refused,  a  suit  w^as  brought  for  its  re- 
covery and  damages.  About  two  months  after  this  process 
was  commenced  intimations  were  indirectly  made  to  the  Board 
of  Directors  of  the  Company  that  if  now  applied  for  the  Bank 
would  restore  the  money.  Wliereupon  the  Treasurer  was  in- 
structed to  present  two  checks  on  the  Bank,  one  for  the  amount 
of  the  principal  withheld,  viz.  $5989.79,  and  the  other  for  the 
amount  of  the  interest  which  had  accrued  as  allowed  by  the 
act  of  Congress  at  the  rate  of  12%  per  annum,  for  the  time 
that  the  money  had  been  withheld ;  the  check  for  the  principal 
sum  was  paid,  and  that  for  the  interest  was  refused.  The  suit 
is  now  prosecuted  to  recover  that  interest;  the  reception  of 
which  entire  sum  will  not  indemnify  the  Company  for  the  loss 
sustained  by  the  withholding  of  this  money  from  it ;  which  had 
been  set  apart  for  the  purchase  of  the  certificates  of  the  Cum- 
berland Bank  of  Allegheny  for  the  purpose  of  discharging  a 
debt  due  in  that  bank  by  some  of  the  Company's  creditors, 
and  which  it  was  bound  to  reserve  in  virtue  of  a  pledge  made 
of  certain  tolls  long  ago  received,  the  said  certificates  having 
so  much  appreciated  in  value  before  the  Company  could  obtain 
the  use  of  its  money,  as  to  require  a  much  larger  sum  to  effect 
the  object  in  view. 

"In  the  month  of  June  application  was  made  by  the  Chief 
of  the  Ordnance  Department  of  the  United  States  for  permis- 
sion to  the  superintendent  of  the  Public  Armory  at  Harpers 
Ferry  to  fix  a  lock  gate  in  the  canal  of  the  Company,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  for  the  purpose  of  increasing  in  dry 
seasons  the  quantity  of  water  in  the  canal  leading  to  the 
Public  works.  This  measure  appearing  to  the  Board  to  be 
one  likely  to  prove  beneficial  to  the  United  States  without 
being  injurious  to  the  navigation  if  properly  effected,  permis- 
sion was  cheerfully  given,  on  condition  that  a  person  should 
be  kept  at  the  gate  at  the  expense  of  the  United  States,  to 


14^  The  Patowmack  Company. 

insure  a  free  passage  to  boats  at  such  times  as  the  gate  was  to 
be  used  for  the  object  in  view;  and  that  in  the  events  of  its 
being  found,  notwithstanding,  an  obstruction  to  the  naviga- 
tion, it  should  be  removed.  .  .  . 

"As  required  by  the  laws  of  Virginia,  the  usual  annual 
report  of  the  state  of  the  Company's  funds  and  of  their  works 
&c.  was  transmitted  in  December  last  to  the  Board  of  Public 
Works  of  that  state.     A  copy  of  which  is  herewith  presented. 

' '  In  relation  to  the  contemplated  amalgamation  of  the  affairs 
of  the  Potowmack  Company  with  those  of  the  projected 
Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  Company,  nothing  farther  has 
been  done,  inasmuch  as  the  commissioners,  appointed  under 
the  several  acts  of  Virginia,  Maryland  and  of  Congress  for 
receiving  subscriptions  for  stock  in  the  last  mentioned  Com- 
pany, have  not  as  yet  thought  it  prudent,  under  the  circum- 
stances of  the  case,  to  open  books  for  that  purpose. 

"It  will,  in  order  to  preserve  the  navigation  of  the  river  in 
a  tolerable  state  for  the  ensuing  season,  be  indispensable  that 
provision  be  made  for  renewing  most  of  the  other  gates  at  the 
Little  Falls  locks,  and  to  rebuild  many  of  the  dams,  sluices 
and  wing  walls  on  the  upper  part  of  the  river,  and  particu- 
larly between  Seneca  Falls  and  Harpers  Ferry.  These  are 
estimated  to  cost  from  $1500  to  $1700.  After  the  reservation 
of  a  sum  sufficient  for  this  object  and  for  ordinary  expenses, 
it  will  be  perceived  by  the  exhibits  of  the  Treasurer  that  there 
will  remain  a  balance  of  a  few  thousand  dollars  from  the  re- 
ceipts of  the  last  year,  applicable  to  the  claims  of  the  creditors 
of  the  Company  in  such  manner  as  the  President  and  stock- 
holders may  deem  proper  to  appropriate  it. 

"All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted  by 

"(Signed)         J.  Mason,  Prest.  Po.  Cy. 
Jonah  Thompson 
Jno.  C.  Vowell 
C.  O'Neil" 

"Annual  Report  for  1827. 

"The  President  and  Directors  of  the  Pato\\^nack  Company, 
to  the  stockholders  in  general  meeting. 


The  Patowmach  Company.  147 

"Respectfully  report: — 

"That,  as  anticipated  by  the  Board  of  Directors  in  their  last 
annual  communication  to  the  general  meeting,  it  has  been 
found  that  much  work  was  required  to  be  done  for  the  then  y 

ensuing  season,  in  order  to  preserve  the  navigation,  in  repair-  1     y^ 

ing  the  locks  on  the  canals  at  the  Great  and  Little  Falls,  in 
rebuilding_th£_da2ns,  sluices  and  wing  walls  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  river  and  in  amending  the  courses. 

"Advantage  was  taken  of  the  low  stage  of  the  water  in  the 
latter  part  of  last  summer,  and  in  the  fall  to  execute  these 
works  to  a  considerable  amount  from  Harpers  Ferry  to  the 
head  of  Seneca  and  thence  to  tide  water,  but  the  approach  of 
winter  rendered  the  days  too  short  to  work  with  effect,  and 
the  rise  in  the  waters  rendered  it  necessary  to  desist  from 
farther  operations.  A  portion  therefore  was  not  finally  com- 
pleted. What  was  done  however  has  so  far  improved  the 
navigation  as  to  admit  of  the  transport  of  ten  barrels  more  of 
flour  in  the  same  stage  of  water.  Some  repairs  were  also  done 
between  the  mouth  of  Opecon  ( ?)  and  Williamsport,  and  be- 
tween the  mouth  of  South  Branch  and  Cumberland.  j\Iuch 
however  yet  remains  to  be  done,  both  on  the  river  and  at  Great 
and  Little  Falls ;  at  the  latter  places,  a  competent  force  under 
the  direction  of  skilful  workmen  and  judicious  superintendence 
is  now  in  train  of  executing  such  repairs  as  are  essential  there. 
At  the  Great  Falls  careful  examination  of  the  works  displayed 
the  imperious  necessity  of  replacing  many  of  the  timbers  at- 
tached and  forming  part  of  the  locks  which  were  in  a  state 
of  natural  decay,  and  in  pulling  down  and  rebuilding  from 
the  foundation,  the  masonry  of  some  of  the  locks  which  were 
in  a  state  of  dilapidation  from  the  imperfection  originally  in 
the  mode  of  facing  them  W\i\\  hewn  stone.  At  the  Little  Falls 
a  pair  of  new  gates  (the  upper  ones)  have  been  inserted,  and 
skilful  carpenters  are  employed  in  framing  new  gates  for  the 
remaining  locks,  for  which  the  materials  are  principally  pro- 
vided and  are  on  the  ground,  in  order  for  insertion  whenever 
required. 

"The  Treasurer  of  the  Company  has  by  order  of  the  Board 
made  two  visits  of  inspection  and  examination  to  various  parts 


r 


148  The  Patowmack  Company. 

of  the  river  above  the  Great  Falls,  and  has  ascertained  the 
state  of  the  Company's  works,  their  condition  and  that  of  the 
navigation  and  has  made  on  each  occasion  a  separate  and  de- 
tailed report  which  are  herewith  submitted.  After  his  first 
tour  of  inspection  and  upon  his  recommendation  as  to  the 
mode  of  executing  the  work,  permission  has  been  granted  by 
the  Board  to  Isaac  Mc.Pherson  to  erect  a  dam  and  mill  on  the 
Monocacy  a  few  miles  above  its  junction  with  the  Patowmack, 
and  to  Dr.  Henry  Boteler  of  Shepherdstown  the  same  privi- 
lege has  been  granted  for  the  building  of  a  dam  and  mill  on 
the  Patowmack  upon  conditions  and  stipulations  which,  when 
complied  with,  will  afford  sufficient  security  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  navigation  and  for  its  improvement,  at  the  same 
time  offering  great  prospect  of  an  increase,  to  a  considerable 
amount,  of  tolls.  The  mill  on  the  ^lonocacy,  so  encouraged, 
has  been  completed  and  has  already  furnished  a  considerable 
addition  to  the  produce  which  has  passed  through  the  locks 
from  that  part  of  the  country.  That  near  Shepherdstown  is 
progressing  rapidly  to  completion. 

"Within  the  last  few  years  the  supply  of  certain  articles, 
particularly  of  coal,  lumber  and  timber  from  the  upper  part 
of  the  Patowmack  to  intermediate  points  on  its  banks  above 
Great  Falls,  has  been  gradually  increasing,  and  latterly,  as 
was  believed,  became  an  object  sufficient  to  merit  the  attention 
of  the  Board  of  Directors,  and  to  authorize  the  expense  of 
establishing  collections  of  tolls  at  such  places  on  the  upper 
river  as  were  designated  by  the  laws  of  the  two  states  from 
whom  the  Company  derives  its  charter.  Accordingly  since 
the  last  general  meeting  of  the  stockholders,  collectors  have 
been  appointed  at  Williamsport,  Shepherdstown  and  Harpers 
Ferry,  at  which  places  considerable  tolls  have  already  been 
collected  and  when  the  requisite  arrangements,  as  to  these, 
shall  have  been  completed,  there  is  good  reason  to  expect  that 
a  handsome  increase  of  revenue  may  be  derived  from  them. 

"  The  suit  prosecuted  against  the  Union  Bank  of  George 
Town  for  damages  because  of  its  with-holding  certain  funds 
of  the  Company,  as  stated  in  the  last  annual  report,  has  termi- 


The  Patowmack  Company.  149 

nated  in  a  judgment  in  favor  of  the  Company  to  the  amount 
of  the  damages  claimed  by  it. 

''The  Cumberland  loan,  so  called  and  more  particularly 
mentioned  in  former  reports,  as  having  under  a  special  pledge 
a  claim  on  the  Company  to  priority  of  payment,  has  been  now 
fully  discharged,  both  principal  and  interest,  and  all  the  sur- 
plus funds  arising  from  the  tolls  of  the  year  just  closed  have 
been  appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  extinguishing  a  part  of 
the  loan  of  twenty-six  thousand  dollars  made  by  certain  banks 
in  the  District  who  were  next  entitled  by  special  pledge  to 
priority  of  payment,  as  will  be  shown  in  detail  in  the  reports 
of  the  Treasurer  herewith  submitted. 

"The  commissioners  appointed  under  the  acts  of  Virginia, 
Maryland  and  of  Congress  for  receiving  subscriptions  to  stock 
in  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  Company,  not  having 
as  yet  opened  their  books,  nothing  farther  has  been  done,  as 
regards  the  corporate  act  of  the  Patowmack  Company  of  the 
16th  jMay  1825,  assenting  to  the  provisions  of  the  above  men- 
tioned acts  incorporating  that  Company. 

"All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 
"  (Signed)     J.  Mason,  Jonah  Thompson,  C.  O'Neil,  Jno.  C. 

VOWELL. ' ' 

Annual  Report  for  1828. 

' '  To  THE  Stockholders  of  the  Patowmack  Company  in 
General  Annual  jMeeting  assembled  ; 

"The  President  and  Directors  Respectfully  report; — 
' '  That  in  addition  to  the  repairs  and  improvement  stated  in 
the  last  annual  report  to  have  been  made  on  the  different  locks, 
canals  and  other  works  in  various  parts  of  the  river,  three  of 
the  locks  at  the  Great  Falls  have  of  necessity  and  at  consider- 
able expense  undergone  a  thorough  repair  in  the  stone  work, 
two  of  them  having  been  rebuilt  from  the  ground,  and  a  large 
portion  of  no.  3  lock  been  replaced  from  the  foundation.  A 
considerable  expenditure  was  also  made  in  repairs  of  the 
gates  and  other  works  requiring  carpenter's  assistance.  At 
the  Little  Falls  a  considerable  portion  of  the  canal  has  been 


150  The  Potowmack  Company. 

cleaned  out,  one  of  the  tumbling  dams  has  been  rebuilt  with 
stone  from  its  foundation,  and  three  pairs  of  new  gates  framed 
of  first  rate  timber  have  been  inserted  to  replace  others  which 
from  long  and  the  natural  decay  incident  to  works  of  that 
kind,  had  become  unsafe  longer  to  be  trusted  to.  Timber  for 
a  fourth  pair  has  been  also  provided  and  is  on  the  spot  and 
partly  framed  for  the  purpose. 

"On  the  Monocacy  the  navigation  has  been  made  good  from 
its  mouth  to  Mc.Pherson's  mill  and  store,  particularly  referred 
to  in  the  last  report,  a  distance  of  nearly  five  miles,  and  there 
is  no  doubt  the  tolls  already  received,  and  to  be  received  from 
the  produce  manufactured  at  that  establislunent  will  soon  re- 
imburse the  cost  of  this  improvement. 

"At  Paynes  Falls  below  Harpers  Ferry  and  at  Stubbeville 
Falls  below  the  Great  Falls  some  permanent  and  advantageous 
improvements  have  been  made. 

"The  differences  existing  with  the  Union  Bank  of  George- 
town have  been  terminated,  the  officers  of  that  bank  having  at 
length  consented  to  a  settlement  in  the  mode  directed  by  the 
stockholders  of  this  Company,  by  dismissing  the  suits  and  dis- 
charging the  judgments  which  the  bank  had  obtained  against 
the  Company,  and  by  consenting  to  receive  from  it,  on  account 
of  the  loan  of  $26,000  of  1816  the  same  proportions  with 
the  other  banks  concerned  in  the  loan;  which  has  accordingly 
been  carried  into  execution,  and  the  judgment  obtained  by 
the  Company  against  the  said  bank  has  been  satisfied  by  it 
by  a  full  payment  of  it  with  costs  of  suit,  &c. 

' '  The  usual  annual  statements  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Com- 
pany displaying  the  monied  and  other  concerns  of  the  Com- 
pany in  the  exhibits  No.  1  to  5  are  herewith  submitted; 
They  are  1st,  A  statement  of  the  quantity  and  estimated  value 
of  produce  and  other  articles  transported  on  the  Patowmack 
in  the  year  ending  31st  July  1828,  with  the  tonnage  employed 
in  conveying  the  same  and  the  tolls  which  have  accrued  there- 
from.— • 

"2nd. — A  general  abstract  showing  the  various  kinds  of 
produce  and  other  articles  transported  during  the  said  period. 


The  Patowmack  Company. 


i=;i 


"3rd. — A  classified  abstract  of  the  disbursements  made  by 
the  Treasurer  for  the  year  ending  31st  July  1828, 

"4th. — An  account  for  the  attendance  of  the  President  and 
Directors  respectively  on  the  business  of  the  Company  during 
their  term  of  service  just  completed. 

"5th. — A  statement  of  the  debts  of  the  Company  and  of  the 
interest  thereon  to  the  date  of  its  assent  to  the  acts  of  the  sev- 
eral sates  and  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  incorpor- 
ating the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  Company,  and  showing 
the  farther  interest  to  31st  July  1828. 

"It  will  be  perceived  that  since  the  last  annual  exhibit  of 
the  accounts  of  the  Company  payments  have  been  made  of 

principal  of  debt  to  the  amount  of  $7,322.83 

and  of  interest  to  the  amount  of  2,880.29 

10^203.12 
and  that  independent  of  the  Lottery  affairs,  the  debts  of  the 
Company  now  stand  for  principal  and  interest  to  16th  May 
1825,  the  date  of  the  assent  before  mentioned,  at  the  sum  of 
very  nearly  $176,400. 

"The  annual  report  has  been  made  to  the  Board  of  Public 
Works  of  the  State  of  Virginia,  as  required  by  the  law  of  that 
state  and  the  same  will  be  found  recorded  in  the  Journal  of 
Proceedings  of  the  Company, 

"(Signed)         J.  Mason  Prest. 
Jonah  Thompson 
C.  O'Neil 
Jno.  C,  Vowell" 

On  the  15th  of  August,  1828,  the  conveyance  to  the 
Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  Company  was  made,  the 
deed  being  signed  by  J.  Mason,  Jonah  Thompson,  John 
Laird  and  Clement  Smith,  and  the  Patowmack  Com- 
pany passed  into  oblivion  with  its  memories  of  heroic 
struggles  and  high  ideals.  Work  had  been  commenced 
on  the  new  enterprise  July  4,  1826,  when  President 
Adams  threw  out  the  first  spade  of  soil  at  Higli  Island, 


152  The  Patowmach  Company. 

but  the  old  works  were  used  until  1830,  when  the  locks 
at  Great  Falls  were  dismantled  and  abandoned.  The 
canal  at  Little  Falls  was  long  used  in  its  original  state. 

Only  an  occasional  one  of  the  many  visitors  to  the 
beautiful  Falls  of  the  Potomac  pauses  to  cast  an  inquir- 
ing glance  at  the  remains  of  the  long  ditch-like  excava- 
tion vanishing  in  the  glade  and  the  ruins  of  the  stone 
laid  sluice-way  and  mill  as  he  passes.  Rarely  a  student 
seeks  the  obscure  path  that,  correctly  followed,  leads  to 
the  old  commodious  basin,  now  a  cultivated  field,  past 
the  tottering  ruins  of  the  once  handsome  home  of  the 
superintendent  to  the  five  locks  farther  down  the  wood, 
three  of  them  faced  with  dressed  brown  stone  from  the 
quarries  at  Seneca,  two  of  them  blasted  through  the 
solid  rock  of  a  cleft  between  two  towering  peaks  that 
stand  as  gigantic  guards  to  this  portal  to  the  rushing 
current  below.  Peering  into  this  forbidding  gorge  one 
realizes  the  full  import  of  the  old  chronicler  who  wrote, 
' '  rarely  an  accident  happens  to  boat  or  cargo. ' ' 

Forest  trees  have  pushed  their  roots  down  and  the 
stone  out,  have  insinuated  themselves  through  from  the 
inside  and  seemingly  hang  in  midair  from  the  walls 
and  rise  in  groups  and  singly  from  the  bed  of  the  locks. 
Nature  has  full  possession.  Imagination  fails  to  pic- 
ture the  old  time  scene  of  life  and  activity. 

With  the  exception  of  Mount  Vernon  this  spot  is 
more  intimately  associated  with  Washington's  every- 
day life  than  any  other,  yet  there  is  nothing  about  the 
locality  to  call  the  attention  of  the  tourist  to  the  fact 
that  the  ground  he  treads  has  been  hallowed  by  long 
and  close  association  with  the  ''Father  of  his  Coun- 
try," and  that  these  ruins  represent  the  first  corporate 
attemj^t  at  inland  improvement  of  waterways  and  for 
communication  with  the  western  country. 


The  Patowmack  Company.  i53 

Peesidents  and  Membees  of  the  Boaed  of  Dieectoes 
OF  the  Patowmack  Company. 

Virginia.  Maryland. 

Geo.  Washington 4  years.  Thos.  Johnson 4  years. 

Jno.  Fitzgerald 3  years.  Tobias  Lear 2  years. 

James  Keith 9  years.  Elie  Williams  2  years. 

Chas.  Simms   8  years.  John  Mason 11  years. 

Thos.  Johnson,  Thos.  Sim  Lee,  Geo.  Gilpin,  Jas. 
Fitzgerald,  Notley  Young,  David  Stuart,  Wm.  Deakins, 
Jr.,  Thos.  Beall  of  George,  Jas.  Keith,  Jno.  Templeton, 
Tobias  Lear,  Philip  Fendall,  John  Mason,  Josias  Clap- 
ham,  Isaac  McPherson,  Francis  Deakins,  H.  Dorsey, 
John  Laird,  Geo.  Peter,  Henry  Foxall,  Wm.  Steuart, 
Josiah  Thompson,  Elie  Williams,  Jonah  Thompson, 
Wm.  Marbury,  Jno.  Vowell,  C.  0  'Neil,  Clement  Smith. 

Among  the  chairmen  of  the  general  annual  meetings 
were  Thos.  Sim  Lee,  Jas.  Fitzgerald,  Gustavus  Scott, 
Thompson  Mason,  Alex.  White,  Chas.  Simms,  Wm. 
Hartshorne,  W.  A.  Worthington,  Jno.  Carroll,  Philip 
B.  Key,  Dan.  Carroll,  Esq.,  Jas.  Keith,  Jno.  Laird,  Wm. 
Marbury,  Benj.  Stoddert,  etc. 

The  treasurers  were  Wm.  Hartshorne,  Jos.  Carleton, 
Jos.  Brewer,  Jas.  Moore,  Jr.,  and  Eobt.  Barnard. 

Note. — Since  the  above  was  written  the  members  of  the  Fairfax  County 
(Va.)  Chapter^  Daughters  of  the  American  Eevolution  have  placed  a 
handsome  bronze  tablet  at  Great  Falls  in  honor  of  George  Washington 
the  Citizen  and  of  the  Patowmack  Company. 


Appendix   A. 

Geo.  Washington  to  Benjamin  Harrison,  Governor  of 

Virginia. 

"Mt.  Vernon,  10  October,  1784. 

"Dear  Sir,  Upon  my  return  from  the  western  country  a 
few  days  ago,  I  had  the  pleasure  to  receive  your  favor  of  the 
17th  ultimo.  It  has  always  been  my  intention  to  pay  my  re- 
spects to  you,  before  the  chance  of  another  early  and  hard 
winter  should  make  a  warm  fireside  too  comfortable  to  be 
relinquished.  And  I  shall  feel  an  additional  pleasure  in 
offering  this  tribute  to  you,  by  having  the  company  of  the 
Marquis  de  Lafayette,  when  he  shall  have  revisited  this  place 
from  his  eastern  tour,  now  every  day  to  be  expected. 

''I  shall  take  the  liberty  now,  my  dear  Sir,  to  suggest  a 
matter,  which  would  (if  I  am  not  too  short-sighted  a  politi- 
cian) mark  your  administration  as  an  important  era  in  the 
annals  of  this  country,  if  it  should  be  recommended  by  you 
and  adopted  by  the  Assembly. 

"It  has  long  been  my  decided  opinion,  that  the  shortest, 
easiest,  and  least  expensive  communication  with  the  invaluable 
and  extensive  country  back  of  us  would  be  by  one  or  both  of 
the  rivers  of  this  State,  which  have  their  sources  in  the 
Apalachian  mountains.  Nor  am  I  singular  in  this  opinion. 
Evans,  in  his  Map  and  Analysis  of  the  ^Middle  Colonies,  which, 
considering  the  early  period  at  which  they  were  given  to  the 
public,  are  done  with  amazing  exactness,  and  Hutchins  since, 
in  his  Topographical  Description  of  the  western  country,  (a 
good  part  of  which  is  from  actual  surveys,)  are  decidedly  of 
the  same  sentiments;  as  indeed  are  all  others,  who  have  had 
opportunities,  and  have  been  at  the  pains,  to  investigate  and 
consider  the  subject. 

"But  that  this  may  not  now  stand  as  mere  matter  of  opinion 
or  assertion,  unsupported  by  facts  (such  at  least  as  the  best 
maps  now  extant,  compared  with  the  oral  testimony,  which  my 

154 


Appendix  A.  i55 

opportunities  in  the  course  of  the  war  have  enabled  me  to 
obtain) ,  I  shall  give  you  the  different  routes  and  distances  from 
Detroit,  by  which  all  the  trade  of  the  north-western  part^  of 
the  united  territory  must  pass ;  unless  the  Spaniards,  contrary 
to  their  present  policy,  should  engage  part  of  it,  or  the  British 
should  attempt  to  force  nature,  by  carrying  the  trade  of  the 
upper  Lakes  by  the  River  Ota  was  into  Canada,  which  I  scarcely 
think  they  will  or  could  effect.  Taking  Detroit  then  (which 
is  putting  ourselves  in  as  unfavorable  a  point  of  view  as  we 
can  be  well  placed,  because  it  is  upon  the  line  of  the  British 
territory),  as  a  point  by  which,  as  I  have  already  observed,  all 
that  part  of  the  trade  must  come,  it  appears  from  the  state- 
ment enclosed,  that  the  tide  waters  of  this  State  are  nearer  to 
it  by  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  miles  than  that  of  the  River 
St.  Lawrence ;  or  than  that  of  the  Hudson  at  Albany,  by  one 
hundred  and  seventy-six  miles. 

"^Maryland  stands  upon  similar  ground  with  Virginia. 
Pennsylvania,  although  the  Susquehannah  is  an  unfriendly 
water,  much  impeded,  it  is  said,  with  rocks  and  rapids,  and 
nowhere  communicating  with  those,  which  lead  to  her  capital, 
has  it  in  contemplation  to  open  a  communication  between 
Toby's  creek,  which  empties  into  the  Allegany  river  ninety- 
five  miles  above  Fort  Pitt,  and  the  west  branch  of  Susque- 
hannah, and  to  cut  a  canal  between  the  waters  of  the  latter 
and  the  Schuylkill ;  the  expense  of  which  is  easier  to  be  con- 
ceived, than  estimated  or  described  by  me.  A  people  how- 
ever, who  are  possessed  of  the  spirit  of  commerce,  who  see  and 
who  will  pursue  their  advantages,  may  achieve  almost  any- 
thing. In  the  meantime,  under  the  uncertainty  of  these  un- 
dertakings, they  are  smoothing  the  roads  and  paving  the  ways 
for  the  trade  of  that  western  world.  That  New  York  will  do 
the  same  as  soon  as  the  Britisi\garrisons  are  removed,  which 
are  at  present  insurmountable  obstacles  in  their  way,  no  per- 
son, who  knows  the  temper,  genius  and  policy  of  those  people 
as  well  as  I  do,  can  harl)or  the  smallest  doubt. 

' '  Thus  much  with  respect  to  rival  States.  Let  me  now  take 
a  short  view  of  our  own;  and,  being  aware  of  the  objections 
which  are  in  the  way,  I  will,  in  order  to  contrast  them,  enum- 
erate them  with  the  advantages. 


15^  Appendix  A. 

"The  first  and  principal  one  is,  the  iin fortunate  jealousy, 
which  ever  has  and  it  is  to  be  feared  ever  will  prevail,  lest 
one  part  of  the  State  slionld  obtain  an  advantage  over  the 
other  parts,  (as  if  the  benefits  of  trade  were  not  diffusive  and 
beneficial  to  all).  Then  follows  a  train  of  difficulties,  namely, 
that  our  people  are  already  heavily  taxed;  that  we  have  no 
money ;  that  the  advantages  of  this  trade  are  remote ;  that  the 
most  direct  route  for  it  is  through  other  States,  over  which 
we  have  no  control ;  that  the  routes  over  which  we  have  control 
are  as  distant  as  either  of  those  which  lead  to  Philadelphia, 
Albany  or  ]Montreal ;  that  a  sufficient  spirit  of  commerce  does 
not  pervade  the  citizens  of  this  commonwealth;  and  that  we 
are  in  fact  doing  for  others,  what  they  ought  to  do  for  them- 
selves. 

"Without  going  into  the  investigation  of  a  question,  which 
has  employed  the  pens  of  able  politicians,  namely,  whether 
trade  with  foreigners  is  an  advantage  or  disadvantage  to  a 
country,  this  State,  as  a  part  of  the  confederated  States,  all 
of  whom  have  the  spirit  of  it  very  strongly  working  within 
them,  must  adopt  it,  or  submit  to  the  evils  arising  therefrom 
without  receiving  its  benefits.  Common  policy,  therefore, 
points  clearly  and  strongly  to  the  propriety  of  our  enjoying 
all  the  advantages,  which  nature  and  our  local  situation  afford 
us ;  and  evinces  clearly,  that,  unless  this  spirit  could  be  totally 
eradicated  in  other  States  as  well  as  in  this,  and  every  man 
be  made  to  become  either  a  cultivator  of  the  land  or  a  manu- 
facturer of  such  articles  as  are  prompted  by  necessity,  such 
stimulus  should  be  employed  as  will  force  this  spirit,  by  show- 
ing to  our  countrymen  the  superior  advantages  we  possess  be- 
yond others,  and  the  importance  of  being  upon  a  footing  with 
our  neighbors. 

"If  this  is  fair  reasoning,  it  ought  to  follow  as  a  conse- 
quence, that  we  should  do  our  part  tow^ards  opening  the  com- 
munication with  the  fur  and  peltry  trade  of  the  Lakes,  and 
for  the  produce  of  the  country  which  lies  within,  and  which 
will,  so  soon  as  matters  are  settled  with  the  Indians,  and  the 
terms  on  which  Congress  mean  to  dispose  of  the  land,  found 
to  be  favourable,  are  announced,  be  settled  faster  than  any 


Appendix  A.  I57 

other  ever  did,  or  any  one  would  imagine.  This,  then,  when 
considered  in  an  interested  point  of  view,  is  alone  sufficient  to 
excite  our  endeavors.  But  in  my  opinion  there  is  a  political 
consideration  for  so  doing,  which  is  of  still  greater  importance. 

''I  need  not  remark  to  you,  Sir,  that  the  flanks  and  rear  of 
the  United  States  are  possessed  by  other  powers,  and  formid- 
able ones  too ;  nor  how  necessary  it  is  to  apply  the  cement  of 
interest  to  bind  all  parts  of  the  Union  together  by  indissoluble 
bonds,  especially  that  part  of  it,  which  lies  immediately  west 
of  us,  with  the  middle  States.  For  what  ties,  let  me  ask, 
should  we  have  upon  those  people  ?  How  entirely  unconnected 
with  them  shall  we  be,  and  what  troubles  may  we  not  appre- 
hend, if  the  Spaniards  on  their  right,  and  Great  Britain  on 
their  left,  instead  of  throwing  stumbling-blocks  in  their  way, 
as  they  now  do,  should  hold  out  lures  for  their  trade  and 
alliance  ?  What,  when  they  get  strength,  which  will  be  sooner 
than  most  people  conceive  (from  the  emigration  of  foreigners, 
who  will  have  no  particular  predilection  towards  us,  as  well 
as  from  the  removal  of  our  own  citizens),  will  be  the  conse- 
quence of  their  having  formed  close  connections  with  both  or 
either  of  those  powers,  in  a  commercial  way  ?  It  needs  not,  in 
my  opinion,  the  gift  of  prophecy  to  foretell. 

"The  western  settlers  (I  speak  now  from  my  own  observa- 
tion) stand  as  it  were  upon  a  pivot.  The  touch  of  a  feather 
would  turn  them  anyway.  They  have  looked  down  the  jNIissis- 
sippi,  until  the  Spaniards,  very  impoliticly  I  think  for  them- 
selves, threw  difficulties  in  their  way;  and  they  looked  that 
way  for  no  other  reason,  than  because  they  could  glide  gently 
down  the  stream ;  without  considering  perhaps,  the  difficulties 
of  the  voyage  back  again,  and  the  time  necessary  to  perform 
it  in;  and  because  they  have  no  other  means  of  coming  to  us 
but  by  long  land  transportation  and  unimproved  roads. 
These  causes  have  hitherto  checked  the  industry  of  the  pres- 
ent settlers;  for  except  the  demand  for  provisions,  occasioned 
by  the  increase  of  population,  and  a  little  flour,  which  the 
necessities  of  the  Spaniards  compel  them  to  buy,  they  have  no 
incitements  to  labor.  But  smoothe  the  road,  and  make  easy 
the  way  for  them,  and  then  see  what  an  influx  of  articles  will 


15S  Appendix  A. 

he  poured  upon  11s;  how  amazingly  our  ex])orts  will  be  in- 
creased by  them,  and  how  amply  we  shall  be  compensated  for 
any  trouble  and  expense  we  may  encounter  to  etfect  it. 

"A  combination  of  circumstances  makes  the  present  con- 
juncture more  favorable  for  Virginia,  than  for  any  other  State 
in  the  Union,  to  fix  these  matters.  The  jealous  and  untoward 
disposition  of  the  Spaniards  on  one  hand,  and  the  private 
views  of  some  individuals,  coinciding  with  the  general  policy 
of  the  Court  of  Great  Britain  on  the  other,  to  retain  as  long 
as  possible  the  posts  of  Detroit,  Niagara,  and  Oswego,  &c., 
(which  though  done  under  the  letter  of  the  treaty  is  certainly 
an  infraction  of  the  spirit  of  it,  and  injurious  to  the  Union,) 
may  be  improved  to  the  greatest  advantage  by  this  State,  if 
she  would  open  the  avenues  to  the  trade  of  that  country,  and 
embrace  the  present  moment  to  establish  it.  It  only  wants  a 
beginning.  The  western  inhabitants  would  do  their  part 
towards  its  execution.  Weak  as  they  are,  they  would  meet 
us  at  least  half  way,  rather  than  be  driven  into  the  arms  of  or 
be  made  dependent  upon  foreigners;  which  would  eventually 
either  bring  on  a  separation  of  them  from  us,  or  a  war  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  one  or  the  other  of  those  powers, 
most  probably  with  the  Spaniards. 

"The  preliminary  steps  to  the  attainment  of  this  great  ob- 
ject would  be  attended  with  very  little  expense,  and  might  at 
the  same  time  that  it  served  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
western  country,  and  to  convince  the  wavering  inhabitants  of 
our  disposition  to  connect  ourselves  with  them,  and  to  facili- 
tate their  commerce  with  us,  be  a  means  of  removing  those 
jealousies,  which  otherwise  might  take  place  among  ourselves. 

"These,  in  my  opinion,  are  to  appoint  commissioners,  who 
from  their  situation,  integrity,  and  abilities,  can  be  under  no 
suspicion  of  prejudice  or  predilection  to  one  part  more  than 
to  another.  Let  these  commissioners  make  actual  surveys  of 
James  River  and  Potomac  from  tide  water  to  their  respective 
sources;  note  with  great  accuracy  the  kind  of  navigation  and 
the  obstructions  in  it,  the  difficulty  and  expense  attending  the 
removal  of  these  obstructions,  the  distances  from  place  to  place 
through  their  whole  extent,  and  the  nearest  and  best  portages 


Appendix  A.  159 

between  these  waters  and  tlie  streams  capable  of  improvement 
which  run  into  the  Ohio ;  traverse  these  in  like  manner  to  their 
junction  with  the  Ohio,  and  with  equal  accuracy.  The  navi- 
gation of  this  river  (?'.  e.,  the  Ohio)  being  well  known,  they 
will  have  less  to  do  in  the  examination  of  it ;  but,  nevertheless, 
let  the  courses  and  distances  be  taken  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Muskingum,  and  up  that  river  (notwithstanding  it  is  in  the 
ceded  lands)  to  the  carrying  place  to  the  Cayahoga;  down  the 
Cayahoga  to  Lake  Erie;  and  thence  to  Detroit.  Let  them  do 
the  same  with  Big  Beaver  Creek,  although  part  of  it  is  in  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania;  and  with  the  Scioto  also.  In  a  word, 
let  the  waters  east  and  west  of  the  Ohio,  w^hich  invite  our 
notice  by  their  proximity,  and  by  the  ease  with  which  land 
transportation  may  be  had  between  them  and  the  Lakes  on  one 
side,  and  the  Rivers  Potomac  and  James  on  the  other,  be  ex- 
plored, accurately  delineated,  and  a  correct  and  connected 
map  of  the  w-hole  be  presented  to  the  public.  These  things 
being  done,  I  shall  be  mistaken  if  prejudice  does  not  yield  to 
facts,  jealousy  to  candor,  and,  finally  if  reason  and  nature, 
thus  aided,  will  not  dictate  what  is  right  and  proper  to  be 
done. 

"In  the  mean  while,  if  it  should  be  thought  that  the  lapse 
of  time,  which  is  necessary  to  effect  this  work,  may  be  attended 
with  injurious  consequences,  could  not  there  be  a  sum  of  money 
granted  towards  opening  the  best,  or,  if  it  should  be  deemed 
more  eligible,  two  of  the  nearest  communications  (one  to  the 
northward  and  another  to  the  southward)  with  the  settle- 
ments to  the  westward ;  and  an  act  be  passed,  if  there  should 
not  appear  a  manifest  disposition  in  the  Assembly  to  make  it 
a  public  undertaking,  to  incorporate  and  encourage  private 
adventurers,  if  any  should  associate  and  solicit  the  same,  for 
the  purpose  of  extending  the  navigation  of  the  Potomac  or 
James  River;  and,  in  the  former  case,  to  request  the  concur- 
rence of  Maryland  in  the  measure?  It  will  appear  from  my 
statement  of  the  different  routes  (and,  as  far  as  my  means  of 
information  have  extended,  I  have  done  it  with  the  utmost 
candor),  that  all  the  produce  of  the  settlements  about  Fort 
Pitt  can  be  brought  to  Alexandria  by  the  Youghiogheny  in 


i6o  Appendix  A. 

three  hundred  and  four  miles,  whereof  only  thirty-one  is  land 
transportation;  and  by  the  Monongahela  and  Cheat  Rivers  in 
three  hundred  and  sixty  miles,  twenty  of  which  only  are  land 
carriage.  Whereas  the  common  road  from  Fort  Pitt  to  Phila- 
delphia is  three  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  all  land  transpor- 
tation ;  or  four  hundred  and  seventy-six  miles,  if  the  Ohio, 
Toby's  Creek,  Susquehannah,  and  Schuylkill  are  made  use  of 
for  this  purpose.  How  much  of  this  is  by  land  I  know  not; 
but,  from  the  nature  of  the  country,  it  must  be  very  consid- 
erable. How  much  the  interest  and  feelings  of  people  thus 
circumstanced  would  be  engaged  to  promote  it,  requires  no 
illustration. 

"For  my  own  part,  I  think  it  highly  probable,  that,  upon 
the  strictest  scrutiny  if  the  Falls  of  the  Great  Kanhawa  can 
be  made  navigable,  or  a  short  portage  be  had  there,  it  will  be 
found  of  equal  importance  and  convenience  to  improve  the 
navigation  of  both  the  James  and  Potomac.  The  latter,  I  am 
fully  persuaded,  affords  the  nearest  communication  with  the 
Lakes;  but  James  River  may  be  more  convenient  for  all  the 
settlers  below  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Kanhawa,  and  for  some 
distance  perhaps  above  and  west  of  it ;  for  I  have  no  expecta- 
tion, that  any  part  of  the  trade  above  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio 
will  go  down  that  river  and  the  IMississippi,  much  less  that  the 
returns  will  ever  come  up  them,  unless  our  want  of  foresight 
and  good  management  is  the  occasion  of  it.  Or,  upon  trial,  if 
it  should  be  found  that  these  rivers,  from  the  before-mentioned 
Falls,  will  admit  the  descent  of  sea-vessels,  in  Avhich  case,  and 
the  navigations  of  the  former's  becoming  free,  it  is  probable 
that  both  vessels  and  cargoes  will  be  carried  to  foreign  markets 
and  sold;  but  the  returns  for  them  will  never  in  the  natural 
course  of  things  ascend  the  Ibng  and  rapid  current  of  that 
river,  which  with  the  Ohio  to  the  Falls,  in  their  meanderings, 
is  little  if  any  short  of  two  thousand  miles.  Upon  the  whole, 
the  object  in  my  estimation  is  of  vast  commercial  and  political 
importance.  In  these  lights  I  think  posterity  will  consider  it, 
and  regret,  (if  our  conduct  should  give  them  cause,)  that  the 
present  favorable  moment  to  secure  so  great  a  blessing  for 
them  was  neglected. 


Appendix  A.  i6i 

''One  thing-  more  remains,  which  I  had  like  to  have  forgot, 
and  that  is,  the  supposed  difficulty  of  obtaining  a  passage 
through  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  How  an  application  to 
its  legislature  would  be  relished,  in  the  first  instance,  I  will 
not  undertake  to  decide ;  but  of  one  thing  I  am  almost  certain, 
such  an  application  would  place  that  body  in  a  very  delicate 
situation.  There  is  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  at  least  one 
hundred  thousand  souls  west  of  Laurel  Hill,  who  are  groaning 
under  the  inconveniences  of  a  long  land  transportation.  They 
are  wishing,  indeed  they  are  looking,  for  the  improvement  and 
extension  of  inland  navigation;  and  if  this  cannot  be  made 
easy  for  them  to  Philadelphia  (at  any  rate  it  must  be  lengthy) 
they  will  seek  a  mart  elsewhere ;  the  consequences  of  which 
would  be,  that  the  State,  though  contrary  to  the  interests  of 
its  seaports,  must  submit  to  the  loss  of  so  much  of  its  trade, 
or  hazard  not  only  the  loss  of  the  trade  but  the  loss  of  the 
settlement  also ;  for  an  opposition  on  the  part  of  government 
to  the  extension  of  w^ater  transportation,  so  consonant  with 
the  essential  interests  of  a  large  body  of  people,  or  any  extra- 
ordinary impositions  upon  the  exports  or  imports  to  or  from 
another  State,  would  ultimately  bring  on  a  separation  between 
its  eastern  and  western  settlements;  towards  which  there  is 
not  wanting  a  disposition  at  this  moment  in  that  part  of  it 
beyond  the  mountains.  I  consider  Rumsey's  discovery  for 
working  boats  against  stream,  by  mechanical  powers  (princi- 
pally), as  not  only  a  very  fortunate  invention  for  these  States 
in  general,  but  as  one  of  those  circumstances,  which  have  com- 
bined to  render  the  present  epoch  favorable  above  all  others 
for  fixing,  if  we  are  disposed  to  avail  ourselves  of  them,  a 
large  portion  of  the  trade  of  the  western  country  in  the  bosom 
of  this  State  irrevocably. 

"Long  as  this  letter  is,  I  intended  to  have  written  a  fuller 
and  more  digested  one,  upon  this  important  subject;  but  have 
met  with  so  many  interruptions  since  my  return  home,  as  to 
have  almost  precluded  my  writing  at  all.  What  I  now^  give 
is  crude;  but  if  you  are  in  sentiment  with  me,  I  have  said 
enough;  if  there  is  not  an  accordance  of  opinion,  I  have  said 
too  much;  and  all  I  pray  in  the  latter  case  is,  that  you  will 


1 62  Appendix  A. 

do  me  the  justice  to  believe  my  motives  are  pure,  however 
erroneous  my  judgement  may  be  in  this  matter,  and  that  I 
am,  with  the  most  perfect  esteem  and  friendship,  Dear  Sir, 
yours,  &e. 

Eeply : 

Nov.  13th. 
"I  was  in  great  hopes  of  seeing  you  here  before  this,  that 
I  might  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  favor  of  the  10th  of 
last  month  in  person,  and  tell  you  how  much  I  approve  of 
your  plan  for  opening  the  navigation  of  the  western  waters. 
The  letter  was  so  much  more  explicit  than  I  could  be,  that  I 
took  the  liberty  to  lay  it  before  the  Assembly,  who  appear  so 
impressed  with  the  utility  of  the  measure,  that  I  dare  say  they 
W'ill  order  the  survey  you  propose  immediately,  and  will  at 
their  next  sitting  proceed  to  carry  the  plan  into  execution. ' ' 

"5th  January,  1785. 
''To  Major-General  Knox. 
^'My  dear  Sir, 

".  .  .  In  my  last  I  informed  you  that  I  was  endeavoring 
to  stimulate  my  Countrymen  to  the  extension  of  the  inland 
navigation  of  our  Rivers;  and  to  the  opening  of  the  best  and 
easiest  communication  for  Land  transportation  between  them 
and  the  Western  "Waters.  I  am  just  returned  from  Annapolis 
to  which  place  I  was  requested  to  go  by  our  Assembly  (with 
my  bosom  friend  Genl.  Gates,  who  being  at  Richmond  con- 
trived to  edge  himself  into  the  commission)  for  the  purpose  of 
arranging  matters,  and  forming  a  Law  which  should  be  simi- 
lar in  both  States,  so  far  as  it  respected  the  river  Potomack, 
w^hich  separates  them.  I  met  the  most  perfect  accordance  in 
that  legislature ;  and  the  matter  is  now  reported  to  ours,  Lor 
its  concurrence." 

"To  do  this  will  be  a  great  political  work — may  be  im- 
mensely extensive  in  a  commercial  point ;  and  beyond  all  ques- 
tion, will  be  exceedingly  beneficial  for  those  who  advance  the 
money  for  the  purpose  of  extending  the  Navigation  of  the 


Appendix  A.  163 

river,  as  the  tolls  arising  therefrom  are  to  be  held  in  per- 
petuity and  will  increase  every  year." 

"Charles  County,  Maryland 
"To  George  Washington  Esquire 

''Sir  I  hereby  authorize  and  request  you  as  President  of 
the  Potomac  Company  to  subscribe  for  me  two  shares  to  the 
before  mentioned  Copartnery,  or  to  consider  me  (if  consistent 
with  the  regulations  of  the  Company)  as  an  adventurer  to 
the  amount  of  two  shares. 

' '  I  take  the  liberty  to  observe  that  I  have  long  agoe  earnestly 
desired  the  exhibition  of  the  present  Scheme,  and  would  have 
subscribed  forthwith,  but  that  the  Company's  Books  were  kept 
at  a  considerable  distance  from  my  home,  and  I  was  not  in- 
formed 'till  lately  that  I  could  become  a  partner  by  letter 
signifying  my  consent.  I  hope  I  am  not  too  late.  And  if  I 
am  considered  as  a  Partner  I  hereby  oblige  myself,  my  heirs, 
executors  and  administrators  to  pay  to  the  President  and 
Directors  of  the  Potomac  Company,  or  to  such  persons  as  they 
shall  authorize  to  receive  the  amount  of  two  shares  in  the  said 
Company  in  such  manner  as  the  President  and  Directors  shall 
require.     I  am  your  Most  Obedient. 

"M.  I.  Stone 
"June  3d,  1785." 

From  Gailliard  Hunt,  Life  and  Writings  of  Jas. 
Madison,  Vol.  3,  p.  182. 

Madison  to  Jefferson,  October  3,  1785. 

"On  my  journey  I  called  at  Mount  Vernon  and  had  the 
pleasure  of  finding  the  General  in  perfect  health.  He  had 
just  returned  from  a  trip  up  the  Potomac.  He  grows  more 
and  more  sanguine  as  he  examines  further  into  the  practica- 
bility of  opening  its  navigation.  The  subscriptions  are  com- 
pleted within  a  few  shares  and  the  work  is  already  begun  at 
some  of  the  lesser  obstructions.  It  is  overlooked  by  Rumsey^ 
the  inventor  of  the  boats  which  I  have  in  former  letters  men- 
tioned to  you.    He  has  not  yet  disclosed  his  secret. "    Etc.,  etc. 


164  Appendix  A. 

"Mt,  Vernon,  10  November,  1785. 
General  Washington  to  George  William  Fairfax, 

''Mij  Dear  Sir; 

".  .  .  We  have  commenced  our  operations  on  the  naviga- 
tion of  this  river;  and  I  am  happy  to  inform  you,  that  the 
difficulties  rather  vanish  than  increase  as  we  proceed. — James 
river  is  under  similar  circumstances;  and  a  cut  between  the 
waters  of  Albemarle  in  No.  Carolina,  and  Elizabeth  river  in 
this  State,  is  also  in  contemplation — and  if  the  whole  is 
effected,  and  I  see  nothing  to  prevent  it,  it  will  give  the  great- 
est and  most  advantageous  inland  Navigation  to  this  Country 
of  any  in  the  Union;  or  I  believe,  in  the  world; — for  as  the 
Shenandoah,  the  South  branch,  Monocasy  and  Conogocheague 
are  equally  capable  of  great  improvement,  they  will  no  doubt 
be  immediately  attempted ;  and  more  than  probable  a  commu- 
nication by  good  roads  will  be  opened  with  the  waters  to  the 
westward  of  us;  by  means  of  the  No.  Branch  of  Potomac, 
which  interlocks  with  the  Cheat  river  and  Yohogany  (branches 
of  the  ]\ronongahela)  that  empty  into  the  Ohio  at  Fort  Pitt. — 
The  same  is  equally  practicable  between  James  River  and  the 
Greenbrier,  a  branch  of  the  Great  Kanhawa,  which  empties, 
300  miles  below  that  place ;  by  means  whereof  the  whole  trade 
of  that  Territory  which  is  now  unfolding  to  our  view,  may  be 
drawn  into  this  State — equally  productive  of  political  as  com- 
mercial advantages. ' ' 

"22  August,  1785. 
To  William  Grayson  (in  Congress). 

"We  have  got  the  Potomac  navigation  in  hand.  Workmen 
are  employed  under  the  best  manager  and  assistants  we  could 
obtain,  at  the  Falls  of  the  Shenandoah  and  Seneca ;  and  I  am 
happy  to  inform  you,  that,  upon  a  critical  examination  of 
them  by  the  Directors,  the  manager,  and  myself,  we  are  unani- 
mously of  opinion,  that  the  difficulties  at  these  two  places  do 
not  exceed  the  expectations  we  had  formed  of  them;  and  that 
the  navigation  through  them  might  be  effected  without  the 
aid  of  locks.  How  far  we  may  have  been  deceived  with  re- 
spect to  the  first  (as  the  water  though  low  may  yet  fall),  I 


Appendix  A.  165 

shall  not  decide ;  but  we  are  not  mistaken,  I  think,  in  our  con- 
jectures of  the  other," 

To  Henry  Lee  in  Congress. 

"Mount  Vernon,  18  June,  1786. 

''3Iy  Dear  Sir; 

"...  The  advantages  with  which  the  inland  navigation  of 
the  Rivers  James  and  Potomac  are  pregnant,  must  strike  every 
mind  that  reasons  upon  the  subject ;  but  there  is,  I  perceive, 
a  diversity  of  sentiment  respecting  the  benefits  and  the  conse- 
quences, which  may  flow  from  the  free  and  immediate  use  of 
the  Mississippi.  My  opinion  of  this  matter  has  been  uni- 
formly the  same ;  and  no  light  in  which  I  have  been  able  to 
consider  the  subject  is  likely  to  change  it.  It  is,  neither  to 
relinquish  nor  to  push  our  claim  to  this  navigation,  but  in  the 
mean  while  to  open  all  the  communications,  which  nature  has 
afforded,  between  the  Atlantic  States  and  the  western  terri- 
tory, and  to  encourage  the  use  of  them  to  the  utmost.  In  my 
judgment  it  is  a  matter  of  very  serious  concern  to  the  well- 
being  of  the  former  to  make  it  the  interest  of  the  latter  to 
trade  with  them ;  without  which,  the  ties  of  consanguinity, 
which  are  weakening  every  day,  will  soon  be  no  bond,  and  we 
shall  be  no  more  a  few  years  hence  to  the  inhabitants  of  that 
country,  than  the  British  and  Spaniards  are  at  this  day;  not 
so  much,  indeed,  because  commercial  connexions,  it  is  well 
known,  lead  to  others,  and  united  are  difficult  to  be  broken, 
and  these  must  take  place  with  the  Spaniards,  if  the  naviga- 
tion of  the  Mississippi  is  opened. 

' '  Clear  I  am,  that  it  would  be  for  the  interest  of  the  western 
settlers,  as  low  down  the  Ohio  as  the  Big  Kanhawa,  and  back 
to  the  Lakes,  to  bring  their  produce  through  one  of  the  chan- 
nels I  have  named;  but  the  way  must  be  cleared,  and  made 
easy  and  obvious  to  them,  or  else  the  ease  with  which  people 
glide  down  stream  will  give  a  different  bias  to  their  thinking 
and  acting.  Whenever  the  new  States  become  so  populous 
and  so  extended  to  the  westward,  as  really  to  need  it,  there 
will  be  no  power  which  can  deprive  them  of  the  use  of  the 


1 66  Appendix  A. 

Mississippi.  Why  then  should  we  prematurely  urge  a  matter, 
which  is  displeasing  and  may  produce  disagreeable  conse- 
quences, if  it  is  our  interest  to  let  it  sleep?  It  may  require 
some  management  to  quiet  the  restless  and  impetuous  spirits 
of  Kentucky,  of  whose  conduct  I  am  more  apprehensive  in  this 
business,  than  I  am  of  all  the  opposition  that  will  be  given  by 
the  Spaniards." 

Thos.  Jeffekson  to  Gten.  Washington. 

"Paris,  May  10,  1788. 
"...  I  am  now  to  acknowledge  the  honor  of  your  two 
letters  of  Nov.  27  &  Feb.  13,  both  of  which  have  come  to  hand 
since  my  last  to  you  of  Dec.  4  &  5.  The  details  you  are  so 
good  as  to  give  me  on  the  subject  of  the  navigation  of  the 
Potowmac  &  Ohio  are  very  pleasing  to  me,  as  I  consider  the 
union  of  these  two  rivers  as  among  the  strongest  links  of  con- 
nexion between  the  eastern  &  western  sides  of  our  confed- 
eracy. It  will  moreover  add  to  the  commerce  of  Virginia  in 
particular  all  the  upper  parts  of  the  Ohio  &  its  waters. 
Another  vast  object  &  of  much  less  difficulty  is  to  add  also  all 
the  country  on  the  Lakes  &  their  waters. ' ' 

Gen.  Washington  to  Thos.  Jeffeeson  in  Paris. 

"Mount  Vernon,  31  August,  1788. 
''Sir, 

' '  I  was  very  much  gratified  a  little  time  ago  by  the  receipt 
of  your  letter  dated  the  2d  of  May.  You  have  my  best  thanks 
for  the  political  information  contained  in  it,  as  well  as  for  the 
satisfactory  account  of  the  canal  of  Languedoc.  It  gives  me 
great  pleasure  to  be  made  acquainted  with  the  particulars  of 
that  stupendous  work,  though  I  do  not  expect  to  derive  any 
but  speculative  advantages  from  it. 

"When  America  will  be  able  to  embark  in  projects  of  such 
pecuniary  extent,  I  know  not;  probably  not  for  very  many 
years  to  come ;  but  it  will  be  a  good  example,  and  not  without 
its  use,  if  we  can  carry  our  present  undertakings  happily  into 
effect.     Of  this  we  have  now  the  fairest  prosj^ect.     Notwith- 


Appendix  A.  167 

standing  the  real  scarcity  of  money,  and  the  difficulty  of  col- 
lecting it,  the  laborers  employed  by  the  Potomac  Company 
have  made  very  great  progress  in  removing  the  obstructions 
at  the  Shanandoah,  Seneca,  and  Great  Falls;  insomuch  that, 
if  this  summer  had  not  proved  unusually  rainy,  and  if  we 
could  have  had  a  favorable  autumn,  the  navigation  might  have 
been  sufficiently  opened  (though  not  completed)  for  boats  to 
have  passed  from  Fort  Cumberland  to  within  nine  miles  of 
a  shipping  port,  by  the  tirst  of  January  next.  There  remains 
now  no  doubt  of  the  practicability  of  the  plan,  or  that,  upon 
the  ulterior  operations  being  performed,  this  will  become  the 
great  avenue  into  the  western  country ;  a  country  which  is  now 
settling  in  an  extraordinarily  rapid  manner,  under  uncom- 
monly favorable  circumstances,  and  which  promises  to  afford 
a  capacious  asylum  for  the  poor  and  persecuted  of  the  earth." 

"13  February,  1789. 

"A  desire  of  encouraging  whatever  is  useful  and  economical 
seems  now  generally  to  prevail.  Several  capital  artists  in 
different  branches  have  lately  arrived  in  this  country.  A 
factory  of  glass  is  established  upon  a  large  scale  on  Monocacy 
River  near  Frederick  Town  in  Maryland.  I  am  informed  it 
will  this  year  produce  glass  of  various  kinds  nearly  to  the 
amount  of  ten  thousand  pounds'  value.  This  factory  will  be 
essentially  benefited  by  having  the  navigation  of  the  Potomac 
completely  opened.  But  the  total  benefits  of  that  navigation 
will  not  be  confined  to  narrower  limits  than  the  extent  of  the 
whole  western  territory  of  the  United  States.  .  .  .  But  I  have 
lately  received  a  correct  draft,  executed  principally  from 
actual  surveys,  of  the  country  between  the  sources  of  the 
Potomac  and  those  navigable  waters  that  fall  into  the  Ohio. 
Of  this  I  enclose  you  such  a  rough  sketch  as  my  avocations 
would  permit  me  to  make;  my  principal  object  therein  being 
to  show,  that  the  distance  between  the  two  waters  is  shorter, 
and  that  the  means  of  communication  are  easier,  than  I  had 
hitherto  represented  or  imagined.  I  need  not  describe  what 
and  how  extensive  the  rivers  are,  which  will  be  thus  in  a 
wonderful  manner  connected,  as  soon  as  the  Potomac  shall 


1 68  Appendix  A. 

be  rendered  entirely  passable.  The  passage  would  have  been 
opened  from  Fort  Cumberland  to  the  Great  Falls  .  .  .  before 
this  time,  .  .  .  had  it  not  been  for  the  unfavorableness  of  the 
season.  In  spite  of  that  untoward  circumstance,  I  have  the 
pleasure  to  inform  you  that  two  or  three  boats  have  actually 
arrived  at  the  last  named  place." 

From  the  will  of  George  Washington,  dated  in  1799. 

"Item; — I  give  and  bequeath  in  perpetuity  the  fifty  shares 
which  J  hold  in  the  Potowmack  Company  (under  the  aforesaid 
acts  of  the  legislature  of  Virginia)  toward  the  endowment  of  a 
University  to  be  established  within  the  limits  of  the  District 
of  Columbia  under  the  auspices  of  the  general  government, 
if  that  government  should  incline  to  extend  a  fostering  hand 
towards  it, — and  until  such  seminary  is  established,  and  the 
funds  arising  on  these  shares  shall  be  required  for  its  support, 
my  farther  mil  and  desire  is  that  the  profit  accruing  there- 
from shall  whenever  the  dividends  are  made  be  laid  out  in 
purchasing  stock  in  the  Bank  of  Columbia,  or  some  other 
Bank,  at  the  discretion  of  my  executors,  or  by  the  Treasurer 
of  the  United  States  for  the  time  being  under  the  direction  of 
Congress,  provided  that  Honorable  body  should  patronize  the 
measure.  And  the  dividends  proceeding  from  the  purchase 
of  said  stock  is  to  be  vested  in  more  stock  and  so  on  until  a 
sum  adequate  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  object  is  obtained 
of  which  I  have  not  the  smallest  doubt  before  many  years 
pass  away,  even  if  no  aid  or  encouragement  is  given  by  legis- 
lative authority,  or  from  any  other  source. ' ' 


Appendix  B. 

Call  from  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  Patoiv- 
mack  Company,  dated  Great  Falls,  Jidy  2, 1799. — 

"Entrusted  as  we  are  with  the  interests  of  the  Potowmaek 
Company  we  deem  it  a  duty  incumbent  on  us,  at  this  time,  to 
give  you,  as  a  Stockhokler,  as  general  a  view  of  those  interests 
as  the  short  compass  of  a  letter  will  admit  of. 

''It  is  known  to  you,  that  the  Capital  of  the  Company  at 
first  consisted  of  five  hundred  shares  of  the  value  of  £100 
sterling  each,  since  which  an  additional  one  hundred  shares 
has  been  created  by  the  Stock  holders,  rated  at  £130  sterling, 
the  whole  of  which,  except  some  inconsiderable  balances  owing 
by  insolvent  characters,  has  been  collected. 

"These  sums  have  been  expended  in  improving  the  naviga- 
tion of  the  River  from  Georges  Creek,  twenty-eight  miles 
above  Fort  Cumberland,  and  two  hundred  and  eighteen  above 
tide  water,  into  tide  water;  which  at  this  time,  is  in  such  a 
state,  that  at  certain  seasons,  boats  loaded  with  an  hundred 
barrels  of  flour  and  upwards,  can  safely  navigate  that  whole 
extent,  except  five  hundred  feet  at  the  Great  Falls. 

"The  difBculty  and  expence  have  proved  much  greater 
than  at  first  contemplated;  at  Shenandoah  and  Seneca  Falls, 
extensive  Canals  have  been  formed  by  which  boats  are  enabled 
to  avoid  the  rocks  and  sudden  descents  in  the  bed  of  the  river ; 
At  the  Great  and  Little  Falls  similar  canals  have  been  con- 
structed— but  at  those  places,  it  has  been  found  that  Locks 
were  indispensable ;  At  the  Little  Falls  three  have  been  made, 
through  which  boats  from  the  foot  of  the  Great  Falls  pass 
with  the  greatest  ease  and  safety  into  tide  water;  At  the 
Great  Falls  one  lock  has  been  formed — four  more  are  requi- 
site; the  seat  of  one  of  those  is  nearly  excavated;  To  aid  the 
intercourse  till  the  work  is  completed  at  this  place,  a  machine 
is  constructed  to  pass  articles  from  the  waters  above,  to  the 
waters  below,  which  is  found  to  answer  extremely  well;  but 
the  experience  of  two  years  has  convinced  us,  that  so  long  as 

169 


lyo  Appendix  B. 

any  obstacle  remains  to  a  free  passage  into  tide  water,  tlie 
navigation  will  not  prove  so  serviceable  to  the  public,  or 
beneficial  to  the  proporietors,  as  has  been  generally  expected 
and  now  certainly  known  it  will  prove  to  be,  when  those  are 
wholly  removed. 

"Independent  of  those  four  principal  falls,  comprizing  alto- 
gether 224  feet,  9  inches,  there  is,  from  the  head  of  the 
Shenandoah  Falls,  fifty  five  miles  above  tide  water,  to  Georges 
Creek,  a  continued  succession  of  smaller  Falls  and  Eipples, 
forming  in  the  aggregate,  a  fall  of  874  feet  4  inches,  these 
have  been  so  far  removed  and  improved  upon,  that  boats  safely 
pass  them. 

"In  the  execution  of  these  works,  the  whole  stock  of  the 
Company  has  been  expended,  except  twenty-nine  shares. 

"From  the  best  and  most  accurate  estimates  that  have  been 
formed,  it  is  supposed  that  the  cost  of  the  remaining  work  at 
the  Great  Falls  will  not  exceed  $60,000,  and  that  it  may  be 
effected  in  the  course  of  twelve  months  from  the  time  funds 
are  provided.  .  .  . 

"Having  had  recourse  to  every  measure  suggested  to  raise 
money  by,  without  effect,  fully  informed  of  the  heavy  ad- 
vances made  by  the  stock-holders,  seeing  those  advances  wholly 
unproductive,  and  knowing  they  will  remain  so  until  the  work 
is  wholly  executed,  (the  absolute  necessity  of  doing  this  must 
be  apparent  to  every  person  interested),  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors, to  raise  the  necessary  funds  for  that  purpose,  take  the 
liberty  of  suggesting  the  only  measure,  which  to  them,  seems 
to  hold  out  a  prospect  of  success, — that  is  for  the  stock-holders 
to  make  a  further  advance  upon  each  share  of  the  stock,  sub- 
ject to  the  same  regulations  the  original  subscriptions  were; 
$100  upon  each  share  will  raise  the  sum  supposed  sufficient 
for  the  purpose.  As  this  advance  must  be  a  voluntary  act, 
the  assent  of  each  stock-holder  must  be  procured  to  carry  the 
same  into  effect.  Should  a  considerable  majority  of  the  Stock- 
holders approve  of  the  measure,  and  others  refuse  to  accede 
to  it,  provision  will  be  applied  for,  and  no  doubt  granted  by 
the  legislatures  to  make  those  stock-holders  making  additional 
advances  to  draw  from  the  tolls  in  proportion  to  those  ad- 
vances. 


^?<^^i^^  y^^^*^*^^-^^^ 


^^'..^..^ 


£:Ag:_y^ii^c^<^c^^^^/^^^^^^ 


%y^^r»y^^^^^t^t>^t^.  /y/>t^ 


i^^ 


Autographs  of  Stockhomjkhs  in  the  Patowmack  Company. 


Appendix  B.  171 

"  It  is  requested  you  will  communicate  your  sentiments  upon 
this  proposition  so  as  to  be  laid  before  the  stock-holders  at 
their  annual  meeting  to  be  held  at  the  Union  Tavern  in  George- 
town on  the  first  Monday  in  August  next. — Also  that  you  give 
your  personal  attendance  at  that  time  if  convenient,  if  not, 
that  you,  without  fail,  appoint  a  proxy  to  represent  you  with 
full  power  to  act  upon  this  proposition. 

"(Signed).  John  Keith,  Pres.,  John  Mason,  Josias 
Clapham,  Isaac  McPherson,  Daniel  Carroll  of  Dudding- 
ton.  Directors." 


Appendix  C. 

From  the  Eeply  of  the  Potomac  Company  to  Ques- 
tions Propounded  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury. 

George  Town,  January  20,  1808. 

"1st.    Points  united  by  canal,  and  their  distance; 
On  the  main  Potomac  in  descending, — the  first  canal  is  con- 
ducted on  the  right  bank  of  the  river  and  unites  the  points 
immediately    above    and   below   Houses    Falls    (immediately 
above  Harper's  Ferry),  50  yards. 

"Second  canal  is  conducted  on  the  left  bank  round  the 
Shenandoah  Falls  (immediately  above  Harper's),  distance, 
1750  yards. — 

"Third  canal  on  the  right  bank  around  Seneca  Falls  (eight 
miles  above  Great  Falls),  1320  yards. 

"Fourth  canal  on  the  right  bank  unites  the  points  imme- 
diately above  and  below  the  Great  Falls,  including  a  basin 
and  five  locks,  1200  yards. 

"Fifth  canal  on  the  left  bank  unites  the  point  imme- 
diately above  the  Little  Falls  and  tide  water  including  three 
locks,  3814  yards. 

On  the  Shenandoah  in  descending; — 

"First  canal  on  the  left  bank  round  Little's  Falls  (eight 
miles  above  junction  with  the  Potomac),  including  a  basin 
and  one  lock,  180  yards. 

"Second  on  the  left  bank  around  Wilson's  upper  falls  in- 
cluding one  lock,  730  yards. 

"Third  canal  on  left  bank  around  Bull's  Falls,  including 
a  chute,  300  yards. 

"Fourth  canal  on  left  bank  around  "Wilson's  lower  Falls 
including  one  lock,  600  yards. 

' '  Fifth  canal  on  left  bank  around  Saw  ]\Iill  Falls,  including 
two  locks,  580  yards. 

172 


Appendix  C.  i73 

"There  are  a  number  of  small  canals  and  cuts  which  draw 
off  the  water  of  the  river  partially  in  different  places  not 
enumerated. 

"2nd.    Difference  of  levels  in  canals; — 
"At  Houses,  3  feet,  at  Shenandoah,  15  feet, — at  Seneca, 
7  feet,— at  Great  Falls,  76j%  feet,— at  Little  Falls,  37i  feet,— 
on  the  Shenandoah,  first  10^  feet,  second,  12|  feet,— third,  4 
feet, — fourth,  6^  feet, — sixth,  7  feet. 

"3rd.     Number  and  description  of  locks; — 

"On  the  Potomac  and  Shenandoah  there  are  thirteen  locks 
and  one  basin  in  use  and  in  good  repair. 

"The  principal  canals  on  the  Potomac  at  Great  and  Little 
Falls  are  6  feet  deep,  25  feet  broad  at  top  and  20  feet  at 
bottom,  the  others  are  from  16  to  20  feet  broad  and  4  to  5  feet 
deep.  Burthen  of  the  boats  which  navigate  the  rivers  averages 
ten  tons.  Breadth  of  towing  paths,  where  they  are  carried 
on  walls,  from  4  to  6  feet,  w^hen  on  the  land  from  8  to  10  feet. 

"  ...  On  all  this  vast  extent  of  interior  navigation,  stretch- 
ing in  different  directions  thro'  a  fertile  and  well  cultivated 
country  the  greatest  obstructions  and  difficulties  have  been 
surmounted — to  wit — the  conducting  by  canals  and  locking 
the  water  round  the  principal  falls  and  reducing  to  a  regularly 
inclined  plane  by  canals  the  water  round  the  lesser  falls. 

"^luch  has  been  done  from  Savage  River  to  tide  water  on 
the  Potomac  and  for  60  miles  on  the  Shenandoah,  40  miles 
on  the  Monocacy,  and  near  the  mouth  of  the  Conogocheague 
the  stream  has  been  cleared  of  obstacles.  On  all  these  the 
beds  of  the  rivers  remain  to  be  improved,  and  it  is  proper  to 
say,  that  in  many  places  where  much  labor  has  already  been, 
expended  to  improve  the  bed  of  the  river  considerable  work 
yet  remains  to  be  done  to  make  it  well  capable  of  navigation 
in  times  of  low  water.  The  locking  and  canals  are  every 
where  executed,  unless  it  may  be  found  at  a  future  day  that 
at  the  Shenandoah  Falls  on  the  Potomac  one  or  two,  locks 
would  be  useful,  as  the  fall  in  the  canal  at  that  place  is  con- 
siderable, and  to  ascending  boats,  presents  some  difficulty. 

"On  the  Shenandoah,  a  river  remarkably  well  suited  to 


174  Appendix  C. 

navigation,  as  from  its  mouth  to  Port  Republic  (200  miles) 
it  preserves  nearly  an  equal  width,  and  the  fall  for  this  whole 
extent  is  estimated  to  be  not  more  than  455  feet.  .  .  . 

"On  the  Potomac  as  the  fall  is  more  considerable,  a  perfect 
improvement  of  the  bed  of  the  river  will  be  more  difficult. 
By  actual  survey  and  admeasurement  made  in  the  year  1789 
by  Col.  Geo.  Gilpin  and  Mr.  Jas.  Smith  for  the  Potowmack 
Company  from  the  mouth  of  Savage  River  to  Cumberland  (30 
miles)  the  fall  was  found  to  be  445  feet,  and  from  Cumberland 
to  tide  water  (187  miles)  715  feet. 

"Many  errors  of  minor  importance  were  no  doubt  made  in 
the  commencement  and  prosecution  of  this  great  work  and 
not  a  little  money  was  lost  for  the  want  of  the  necessary 
knowledge  (practical)  in  its  early  stages  as  it  was  the  first 
work  of  the  kind  undertaken  in  this  part  of  the  country — 
most  of  these  however  were  gradually  remedied  by  experience, 
and  it  is  believed  that  no  material  defect  remains  to  be  cured, 
but  in  two  instances — the  first,  in  the  construction  of  four  of 
the  locks — three  of  these  were  constructed  of  an  improper 
material — wood,  and  all  the  four  made  larger  than  requisite, 
thereby,  not  only  having  gone  to  a  greater  expense  in  the 
construction  than  necessary,  but  being  constantly  taxed  with 
a  loss  of  time  and  water  in  filling  them.  The  three  locks  at 
the  Little  Falls  of  the  Potomac  were  the  first  constructed, 
they  were  made  18  feet  wide  and  of  wood,  the  next  which  was 
finished  was  the  upper  lock  at  the  Great  Falls — this  was  made 
14  feet  wide.  A  little  farther  experience  satisfied  the  Di- 
rectors of  the  Company  that  the  width  of  12  feet  was  sufficient 
for  any  vessels  that  would  navigate  the  river,  and  so  were 
formed  all  that  followed.  The  remedy  in  this  case  as  to  the 
upper  lock  at  Great  Falls,  was  soon  applied,  its  greater  capac- 
ity aided  by  an  adjoining  basin,  was  made  to  serve  to  fill  more 
readily  the  lower  locks,  At  Little  Falls  ...  it  is  proposed 
when  the  wood  decays  to  rebuild  of  granite  (of  which  there 
is  a  quarry  of  excellent  quality  on  the  canal  just  above,  be- 
longing to  the  Company,  reserved  for  the  purpose.)  and  then 
to  contract  them  to  12  feet  in  width. 


Appendix  C.  175 

"In  the  next  instance  it  is  now  thought  that  in  the  labor 
applied  to  the  bed  of  the  river  too  much  has  been  done  in 
removing  rocks  and  that  obstructions  to  the  passing  off  of  the 
water  have  sometimes  been  mistaken  for  obstructions  to 
navigation. 

"It  is  proposed  in  such  places  as  will  admit  of  that  mode  of 
improvement  to  erect  a  series  of  small  cheap  dams  across  the 
river  thereby  to  back  the  water  from  station  to  station  and  to 
leave  such  falls  generally  as  a  boat's  crew  will  readily  push, 
or  haul  up  against,  in  ascending,  and  as  will  not  be  dangerous 
in  descending.  It  is  also  believed  that  in  the  progress  of  the 
improvement  of  the  bed  of  the  river,  it  will  be  found  best  in 
many  places  to  cut  additional  small  canals  on  either  side  thro' 
the  land  round  the  more  considerable  obstacles. 

"There  are  at  this  time  navigating  the  Potomac  and  Shen- 
andoah boats  equal  in  burthen  to  about  800  tons,  but  it  is  to 
be  remarked  that  the  last  season  having  been  the  first  that 
the  Shenandoah  was  open  there  were  then  no  boats  on  that 
river,  a  few  only  were  built  during  that  year,  many  are  now 
preparing,  and  it  is  estimated  that  for  the  next  season  the 
tonnage  will  amount  to  at  least  1200  tons.  .  .  . 

"The  expense  of  carriage  by  the  river  above  tide  water 
compared  with  land  carriage  rated  on  a  barrel  of  flour  and 
taken  from  three  principal  points;  Cumberland,  Williams- 
port  and  Harper's  Ferry  stand  as  nearly  as  may  be,  thus; — ■ 
From  Cumberland  by  land,  $2.25,  by  water,  including  tolls, 
$1,30 — from  Williamsport  by  land,  $1.50,  by  water,  including 
tolls,  $1.00.  from  Harper's  Ferry  the  same.  It  is  to  be  ob- 
served however  that  the  rates  by  water  are  too  high  at  this 
time  and  that  there  are  fewer  boats  now  on  the  river  than 
are  requisite  for  the  business,  that  when  their  number  shall 
be  increased  and  the  bed  of  the  river  be  farther  improved, 
the  carriage  by  water  will  be  reduced  from  33  to  50%. 

"In  navigating  from  Savage  River  to  tide  water  there  are 
employed  three  to  four  days,  from  tide  water  to  Savage  River 
six  to  seven  days — from  Harper's  Ferry  one  and  a  half  days 
from  tide  water  to  Harper's  Ferry  three  to  three  and  a  half 
days. 


176  Appendix  C. 

"On  the  Potomac  at  the  lower  extremity  of  the  canals  at 
the  Great  Falls  are  five  locks ;  Dimensions — one,  length  100  feet, 
Avidth  14  feet,  lift  10  feet,  contents  18,200  cubic  feet — con- 
struction, rectangular,  walled  with  hewn  free  stone,  sluice 
gates  discharge  thro'  the  larger  gates, — one,  length  100  feet, 
width  12  feet,  lift  16  feet,  contents  22,800  cubic  feet,  con- 
struction rectangular  of  hewn  stone,  sluice  gates  as  before 
described, — one,  length  100  feet,  width  12  feet,  lift  14  feet, 
contents  20,400  cubic  feet,  construction  as  the  last, — two, 
length  100  feet,  width  12  feet,  lift  18  feet,  contents  25,200 
cubic  feet  each,  construction  rectangular,  blown  out  of  the 
solid  rock,  the  natural  rock  worked  tolerably  smooth  forming 
the  sides,  some  mason  work  being  used  where  the  fixtures  are 
inserted  for  supporting  the  gates,  the  sluice  gates  in  these 
locks  as  in  several  of  the  others  that  are  deep,  do  not  lift  but 
are  made  of  cast  iron  and  turn  on  a  pivot  fixed  in  the  center, 
so  that  when  the  sluice  is  open  this  little  gate  or  stopper  is 
turned  edgewise  to  the  stream,  they  work  very  easy  and  are 
managed  in  deep  locks  much  more  readily  than  those  of  the 
ordinary  construction. 

"At  tide  water,  at  the  canal  at  the  Little  Falls,  three — 
dimensions — length  100  feet,  width  18  feet,  lift  11  feet,  con- 
tents 23,400  cubic  feet  each,  construction  of  wood,  rectangular 
— sluice  gates  discharge  as  described  for  those  at  Great  Falls. 

"On  the  Shenandoah  at  Little  Falls,  one  lock  length  100 
feet,  width  12  feet,  lift  8  feet,  contents  13,200  cubic  feet, 
construction — walled  with  granite  and  free  stone  near  the 
gates,  rectangular,  sluices  discharged  thro '  the  principal  gates, 
and  one  basin  immediately  above  and  adjoining  the  lock, 
eliptic,  130  feet  from  gate  to  gate,  and  150  feet  across,  lift 
two  feet,  the  upper  gate  serving  as  a  guard  gate,  walled  as 
the  lock. 

"At  Wilson's  Upper  Falls  one  lock  length  100  feet,  width 
12  feet,  lift  12  feet,  contents,  18,000  cubic  feet — construction 
as  the  last. 

"At  Wilson's  Lower  Falls,  one,  length  100  feet,  width  12 
feet,  lift  6  feet,  contents  10,800  cubic  feet,  construction  as 
the  last.    At  Saw  I\Iill  Falls,  two,  one  length  100  feet,  width 


Appendix  C.  i77 

12  feet,  lift  9  feet,  contents  14,400  cubic  feet,  the  other  same 
length  and  width,  lift  8  feet,  contents  13,200  cubic  feet,  con- 
struction of  these  same  as  the  last  described. 

"The  natural  or  improved  bed  of  the  main  Potomac  River 
and  of  its  branches,  the  Shenandoah,  the  Conogocheague,  and 
the  Monocacy  are  now  used,  except  such  parts  of  the  Potomac 
and  Shenandoah  as  are  intersected  by  the  canals  already  de- 
scribed, that  is  to  say; — 

"Of  the  Potomac  from  Savage  River  to  tide  water,  from 
actual  measurement,  218  miles  350  yards,  Shenandoah  200 
miles,  Monocacy  40  miles,  Conogocheague,  14  miles. 

"The  sum  already  expended  in  this  work  (commenced  in 
1784)  including  interest  on  loans  amounts  at  this  time  to 
$444,648.89 

' '  The  capital  stock  is  composed  of  500  shares  created  by  the 
original  incorporating  acts  of  Virginia  and  Maryland  in 
1784 — 100  shares  created  in  1796 — 130  shares  created  in  1798 
— total  730,  29  of  which  have  been  bought  in  from  delinquent 
subscribers,  equal  to  $311,555  f.  The  state  of  Maryland 
holds  220  shares,  Virginia  70,  also  50  shares  presented  by  the 
State  to  Gen.  Washington  and  by  him  bequeathed  towards  the 
endowment  of  an  university  to  be  established  within  the  limits 
of  the  District  of  Columbia.  Individuals  hold  361  shares 
of  stock. 

"As  to  capital  wanted  for  completing  the  work,  it  is  esti- 
mated by  the  Board  of  Directors  that  the  sum  of  $100,000 
may  be  required,  in  addition  to  what  has  been  expended, 
effectually  to  render  navigation  possible  in  times  of  the  lowest 
water  from  all  the  points  enumerated  to  tide  water. 

' '  The  gross  amount  of  tolls  received  has  been,  $49,274  since 
August  1800." 

(For  the  balance  of  the  report  see  accounts  of  incor- 
poration of  the  Company.) 


13 


Appendix  D. 

"Treasury  Office,  December  7th,  1818. 
"The  Honorable  the  General  Assembly  of  IMaryland, 
"Gentlemen, 

"I  Have  The  honor  to  transmit  herewith,  a  communication, 
with  the  statements  accompanying  it,  received  from  John 
Mason,  Esquire,  relative  to  the  proceedings  of  the  Potomac 
company,  and  the  debt  due  to  the  state. 

' '  I  also  transmit  a  statement  of  the  state 's  claim  against  said 
company,  in  consequence  of  a  loan  made  to  them,  on  the  face 
of  which  it  will  be  seen  that  the  whole  principal  sum,  with 
two  years  interest  thereon,  will  be  due  on  the  first  of  Janu- 
ary next.  It  therefore  remains  with  the  legislature  to  de- 
termine, whether  a  further  time  for  payment  shall  be  given, 
or  to  direct  such  procedure  as  they  in  their  wisdom  shall 
devise,  to  enforce  the  collection  of  said  claim. 
' '  Gentlemen, 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
"With  great  respect, 

"Your  obedient  servant, 

"B.  Harwood,  Tr.  W.  8.  M'd." 

"George-Town,  July  30th,  1818. 
"Sir, 

"The  Letter  which  was  addressed  by  you  on  the  19th  March 
last,  to  ]\Ir.  Brewer,  Treasurer  of  the  Potomac  company,  in 
relation  to  the  debt  due  by  the  company  to  the  state  of  Mary- 
land, was  submitted  to  the  first  board  of  directors  held  after 
its  reception,  and  would  have  been  sooner  replied  to,  but  that 
I  was  desirous  in  compliance  with  the  views  of  the  board,  of 
being  able  at  the  same  time,  to  communicate  the  amount  of 
the  receipts  of  the  present  year  ending  on  the  first  Monday 
of  next  month ;  the  accounts  for  which  are  but  just  made  up. 

"I  have  now  the  honor  to  transmit  to  you  an  order  of  the 

178 


Appendix  D.  i79 

board  on  the  subject  of  your  letter,  together  with  the  extracts 
from  the  communication  made  in  December  last  to  the  board 
of  public  works  in  Virginia,  directed  by  the  order,  and 
marked  A,  and  B,  and  a  paper  marked  C,  being  an  appendix 
to  the  table  B,  in  which  last  paper  is  shown,  from  the  com- 
mencement of  the  operations  of  the  company  in  1799,  to  the 
1st  of  August  1817,  the  annual  amount  of  tolls  received,  the 
tonnage  employed,  and  the  produce  and  merchandise  trans- 
ported, and  the  estimated  value  of  the  same.  The  paper  C, 
gives  the  same  results  for  the  year  ending  on  the  first  of 
August,  1818. 

"You  will  perceive,  Sir,  by  the  last  mentioned  paper,  that 
the  tolls  received  that  year  have  amounted  to  little  more  than 
ten  thousand  dollars;  more  than  half  of  which  amount  has 
been  expended  in  addition  to  the  last  loan  from  the  banks, 
in  finishing  the  new  set  of  stone  locks  at  the  little  falls,  (which 
by  great  exertion  were  put  in  operation  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  present  season),  and  the  necessary  current  ex- 
penses and  repairs.  The  sum  above  mentioned  taken  up  from 
the  banks  on  a  particular  pledge,  was  fifteen  thousand  dollars ; 
and  there  had  been  previously  borrowed  of  them  for  the  same 
purpose,  twenty  six  thousand  dollars.  For  the  sum  first  bor- 
rowed, however,  it  is  hoped  they  would  consent  to  wait  longer 
for  the  reimbursement. 

"Under  these  peculiar  circumstances,  in  consideration  that 
the  w^orks  of  the  company  are  now  rendering  essential  benefits 
to  all  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  the  waters  of  the  Potomac, 
and  in  the  expectation  that  (this  unlooked  for  and  great  ex- 
penditure in  renewing  the  whole  set  of  locks  at  the  Little 
Falls  being  now  made)  the  revenue  of  the  company  may 
enable  it  to  discharge  its  debts  within  a  reasonable  time.  The 
president  and  directors  earnestly  hope  that  the  state  of  IMary- 
land  will  not  insist  upon  the  immediate  payment  of  the  in- 
stalments of  the  debt  due  it. 

"Very  respectfully, 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir, 

"Your  most  obedient  servant, 
" Benjamin  Harwood,  Esq.  "J.  Mason. 

"Treasurer  of  the  state  of  Maryland." 


i8o  Appendix  D. 

"(A.) 
Extract  from  a  communication  made  on  the  6th  December, 
1817,  from  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  Potomac 
Company,  to  the  hoard  of  puhlic  ivorhs  of  the  State  of 
Virginia. 
"The  Extent  of  the  navigation  of  the  Potomac  river  and 
its  branches  under  the  control  of  the  company,  already  im- 
proved, completely  or  partially,  is  of  about  two  hundred  and 
seventy-five  miles,  that  is  to  say,  on  the  main  river,  two 
hundred  and  twenty,  on  the  Conogocheague,  fifteen,  and  on 
the  IMonocosy,  forty  miles.  The  navigation  of  the  Shanan- 
doah  Branch,  is  not  noticed  here,  because  the  improvement 
of  that  river  is  now  in  the  hands  of  another  company.  After 
expending  a  large  sum  of  money,  and  having  opened  the  navi- 
gation on  it  for  a  considerable  extent,  by  means  of  canals, 
locks  and  other  works,  the  Potomac  company  finding  it  not 
in  their  power  to  go  on  with  its  improvement  for  want  of 
funds  within  any  reasonable  time,  deemed  it  conducive  to  the 
interest  of  the  community,  and  in  all  probability  most  to  the 
ultimate  advantage  of  the  Potomac  company,  to  dispose  of 
these  works  at  a  considerable  present  sacrifice,  that  is,  for 
greatly  less  than  they  cost,  to  a  company  associated  for  the 
purpose  of  improving  that  river,  and  wdiich  has  been  duly 
incorporated,  and  an  agreement  has  been  accordingly  entered 
into  to  that  effect,  not  yet  finally  ratified,  but  there  is  little 
doubt  that  it  will  be  confirmed. 

"The  improvement  for  the  extent  before  stated,  has  been 
effected  by  means  of  large  canals,  taken  out  of  the  river  and 
locked  round  the  principal  falls,  and  reduced  to  regular 
inclined  planes  round  the  lesser  falls,  as  at  the  great  falls, 
where  the  difference  of  level  is  seventy-six  feet  nine  inches, 
by  a  canal  six  feet  deep,  twenty-five  feet  wide  at  the  top,  and 
twenty  at  bottom,  twelve  hundred  yards  long,  with  five  locks 
and  a  bason. 

"At  the  lower  or  'Little  Falls'  so  called,  by  a  canal  of  the 
same  depth  and  width,  three  thousand  eight  hu7idred  and 
fourteen  yards  long,  with  four  locks,  and  a  difference  of  level 
of  thirty  seven  feet,  and  at  the  falls  opposite  the  mouth  of  the 


Appendix  D.  iBi 

Shenandoah,  by  one  seventeen  hundred  and  sixty  yards  long, 
difference  of  level  fifteen  feet.  At  the  Seneca  Falls,  by  one 
thirteen  hundred  and  twenty  yards  long,  difference  of  level 
seven  feet,  and  at  House's  Falls,  by  one  of  fifty  yards  long, 
difference  of  level  three  feet;  the  three  last  mentioned  canals 
being  without  locks,  from  sixteen  to  twenty  feet  wide,  and 
from  four  to  five  feet  deep.  And  moreover,  by  much  work 
executed  on  the  bed  of  the  river,  by  blowing  and  removing 
masses  of  rocks,  by  running  wing  walls  to  collect  the  water, 
by  making  cuts  on  its  sides  to  draw  the  water  partially  from  the 
river  into  a  more  secure  and  better  channel,  and  by  erecting 
cradels  and  chutes  to  pass  boats.  A  considerable  expenditure 
has  also  been  made  on  the  Antietam,  but  without  as  yet,  any 
beneficial  result  from  that  branch  of  the  river.  Nothing  has 
yet  been  done  on  the  upper  part  of  the  Conogocheague,  on  Pat- 
terson's  Creek,  on  the  South  Branch,  on  Cape  Capeon,  or  on 
the  Opecan;  from  all  which  branches  there  is  no  doubt  con- 
siderable addition  may  be  made  to  the  general  navigation  of 
the  river  at  a  future  day. 

''The  principal  obstructions  having  been  removed  through- 
out the  whole  distance  before  stated  as  improved,  the  com- 
pany had  hoped  that  the  calls  on  it  for  heavy  expenditure 
were  over,  and  that  it  might  go  on  leisurely  to  ameliorate  that 
part  of  the  navigation,  to  open  the  remaining  branches  of  the 
river,  and  to  prepare  for  paying  off  existing  debts  without 
incurring  new  ones,  when  unfortunately  about  two  years  ago, 
the  set  of  locks  at  the  foot  of  the  canal  round  the  lower  falls, 
which  having  been  constructed  of  wood,  gave  way,  and  in  such 
a  manner  that  it  became  necessary  to  renew  them  entirely. 
It  was  determined  as  most  conducive  to  the  interest  of  the 
company,  and  most  consistent  with  the  object  of  the  institu- 
tion, to  occupy  a  different  scite  for  the  locking  of  this  place, 
and  to  construct  the  locks  and  their  appendages,  wholly  of 
stone  and  solid  mason  work.  These  locks,  four  in  number, 
and  locking  a  fall  of  thirty  seven  feet  with  their  guard  walls, 
&c.  have  cost  a  heavy  sum  of  money,  and  their  erection  has 
forced  the  company  into  a  large  and  unexpected  expenditure, 
and  obliged  it  to  contract  new  debts  to  provide  for  it;  they 


i82  Appendix  D. 

are  however  nearly  compleated,  and  will  be  ready  to  pass  boats 
at  the  commencement  of  the  spring  navigation, 

''The  total  expenditure  in  improvements  on  this  river  made 
by  the  Potomac  company,  from  the  commencement  of  its 
operations  in  1784  to  this  time,  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, may  be  stated  at  six  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars. The  aggregate  amount  of  the  debts  due  at  this  time  by 
the  company  and  admitted  by  it,  including  interest,  is  about 
140,000  dollars,  of  which  89,700  dollars  to  banks,  and  30,000 
dollars  to  the  State  of  Maryland,  and  about  20,500  dollars  to 
individuals.  There  are  moreover  some  claims  disputed  by  the 
company,  which  if  established  may  increase  the  sum  to  about 
150,000  dollars.  It  will  further  require  a  sum  of  10  or 
12,000  dollars  to  be  raised  at  the  close  of  this  season,  to  pay 
off  the  workmen  and  balances  due  for  materials  employed  in 
constructing  the  locks  at  the  Little  Falls  before  described. 

"The  debts  due  to  and  from  the  company  on  account  of  the 
lottery  authorised  by  the  State  of  jMaryland,  yet  unsettled, 
are  not  taken  into  view,  as  they  are  intended  to  settle  each 
other;  the  result  is  however  doubtful.  This  lottery  concern 
has  been  unfortunate,  and  has  not  afforded  the  expected  aid 
to  the  company,  and  may  produce  an  ultimate  loss. 

"The  only  debt  due  to  the  company  of  any  importance  will 
be  one  from  the  Shenandoah  company,  for  the  purchase  of 
the  works  on  that  river  before  mentioned,  amounting  to 
15,000  dollars,  when  the  agreement  shall  be  ratified. 

"The  aggregate  receipts  from  tolls  commencing  on  the 
first  of  August  1799,  to  the  first  of  August  1817,  amounts  to 
162,379  dollars,  the  portion  of  which  received  in  each  year, 
as  w^ell  as  the  quantity  and  kinds  of  produce  on  which  it  is 
levied,  and  the  number  of  boats  and  the  quantum  of  tonnage 
used  in  the  transportation,  and  the  estimated  value  of  the 
produce  and  merchandise  so  transported,  is  particularly 
shewn  in  the  table  which  is  herewith  transmitted. 

"At  the  same  time  that  the  president  and  directors  regret 
that  the  view  which  is  here  given  of  the  monied  concerns  of 
the  company  is  far  from  being  agreeable,  yet  when  the  mag- 
nitude of  the  work  in  which  it  has  been  engaged  is  considered. 


Appendix  D.  183 

and  it  is  recollected  that  in  spite  of  all  that  can  be  done  in 
such  cases,  many  errors  of  construction,  for  want  of  the  requi- 
site practical  knowledge,  must  have  been  committed,  and 
many  expenditures  beyond  ordinary  calculations  must  have 
been  made,  in  effecting  a  navigation  on  so  extensive  and 
rapid  a  stream  presenting  innumerable  obstructions,  in  a  dif- 
ference of  level,  (as  is  the  fact  from  the  upper  point  of  im- 
provement to  tide  water,)  of  eleven  hundred  and  sixty  feet; 
in  a  country  so  new  in  undertakings  of  this  nature,  and  par- 
ticularly on  inspection  of  the  table  annexed,  when  it  is  seen 
to  what  a  mass  of  produce  and  merchandize  this  navigation 
is  affording  a  cheap  and  easy  transportation,  and  the  great 
resources  in  tolls  which  must  ultimately  grow  out  of  the  in- 
creased population  and  cultivation  of  the  extensive  and  fertile 
country  pervaded  by  these  waters  are  estimated,  they  can 
but  hope,  that  the  day  is  not  very  distant,  when  the  company 
will  be  enabled  to  discharge  the  demands  against  it,  and  to 
remunerate  its  stockholders  for  the  inactivity  of  a  capital,  to 
them  so  long  unproductive,  by  handsome  dividends  of  annual 
profit.  At  any  rate,  it  will  be  readily  perceived  by  the  exhibit 
here  presented,  that  the  community  have,  for  many  years, 
profited  to  a  great  extent  by  the  facility  and  saving  in  the 
expense  of  transportation  offered  by  this  navigation,  which 
cannot  now  be  estimated  at  less  than  fifty  thousand  dollars 
per  annum,  for  the  difference  between  land  and  water  car- 
riage on  the  articles  conveyed  to  and  from  the  upper  country 
by  way  of  the  river,  and  that  the  company  has  constantly 
laboured  to  produce,  in  the  first  instance,  these  advantages 
to  the  community,  since  it  has  uniformly  instructed  the  board 
of  directors  to  apply  the  tolls  received  toward  further  im- 
provements, except  in  a  single  instance,  when,  in  the  year 
1802,  a  dividend  at  the  rate  of  5.55  dollars  per  share,  amount- 
ing to  the  small  sum  of  3,890.55  dollars  was  made,  and  that 
it  is  the  fact,  that  all  the  rest  of  the  toll  money  received  from 
time  to  time,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  158,489.40  dollars 
has  been  so  applied." 


184  Appendix  D. 

AT  A  meeting  of  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  Potomac 
Company,  held  in  George-Town,  6th  April,  1818,  a 
letter  of  Idtli  March  last,  from  B.  Harivood,  Esq.  treas- 
urer of  the  state  of  Maryla^id,  in  relation  to  the  debts 
due  hy  the  company  to  that  state,  was  submitted. 
Ordered,   That  the   president   write   to   the   treasurer,    and 
inform  him  the  present  state  of  the  companies'  funds  and 
works,  by  transmitting  him  the  substance  of  the  communi- 
cation made  last  fall  to  the  board  of  works  of  Virginia,  and 
what  may  have  since  occurred; — that  he  inform  him  of  the 
necessity  under  which  the  board  found  itself,  from  the  decay, 
and  finally  the  falling  in  of  the  locks  at  the  Little  Falls,  for 
the  good  of  the  whole,  as  well  of  the  stockholders  as  the 
creditors,  to  take  up  from  the  banks  a  considerable  sum  of 
money  to  rebuild  the  locks  at  that  place,  in  order  to  secure  a 
continuance  of  the  revenue  by  tolls,  and  to  pledge  an  imme- 
diate return  of  the  same  out  of  the  first  monies  received  after 
the  completion  of  the  locks, — and  that  he  express  a  hope,  on 
the  part  of  the  board,  that  under  these  particular  circum- 
stances, the  officers  of  the  state  will  not  insist  that  the  di- 
rectors provide  for  the  instalment  of  the  principal  and  the 
interest   on  the  debt  now  due,   until   they  can  refund  the 
money  so  taken  up  for  the  special  purpose  just  mentioned. 
[True  copy,]  Jos.  Brewer,  Tr.  P.  Co. 


Appendix  D. 


185 


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Appendix  D. 


187 


fi^ 


s « 

u  a. 
^"3 

Dolls. 

5,400 
30,000 

8 

CO 

Dolls. 

1,800 

1,800 
1,800 

By  cash  for  one 
year's  interest 

By  ditto     ditto 
By  ditto     ditto 

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due  for  princi- 
pal 

1815,  January 
13 

1816,  Febru- 
ary 10 

1817,  July  3 

al5 

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30,000 

5,400 
35,400 

30,000 
j-  3,600 

33,600 

Dolls. 

1,800 
1,800 
1,800 

00 

To  exchange  six  per  cent,  stock  of  the  United 
States  of  1812,  for  thirty  thousand  dollars  of 
said  stock,  transferred  to  them  on  the  22d 
February,  1814,  pursuant  to  the  resolutions 
of    November  session  1812,  and    December 
session  1813,  for  which  they  have  pledged  the 
funds  of  the  said  company,  and  given  bond 
in   their   corporate   capacity,    for    the    reim- 
bursement of  the  principal  in  stock  of  the 
like  nature  with  that  loaned,  by  instalments 
of  three,  four  and  five  years,  with  interest 
from  the  first  day  of  January,  1814,  upon  the 
whole  amount  of  principal  remaining  unpaid, 
such  interest  to  be  paid   annually,  and  in 
money  of  the  United  States. 
To  interest  account  for  1  year,  to  1st  instant. 
To         ditto             ditto         to  1st  Jan.  1816, 
To         ditto             ditto         to  1st  Jan.  1817, 

To  old  account  due  for  principal, 
To  interest  on  30,000  dollars  from  1st  Januarj 
to  1st  January,  1819,  two  years,  at  G  per  cen 

a 

1815,  January    13 

1816,  February  10 

1817,  July             3 

Appendix  E. 

* '  Travels  through  the  United  States  of  North  Amer- 
ica, the  Country  of  the  Iroquois  and  Upper  Canada, 
1795-6-7,  by  the  Duke  de  la  Eochefoucault-Liancourt,'' 
London,  1799,  page  334 : 

''An  excursion  that  I  made  to  the  (Great)  Falls  gave  me 
an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  canals  which  are  forming  for  the 
purpose  of  avoiding  them  (the  falls)  and  are  the  undertaking 
of  the  Potowmack  Company.  The  canal  of  the  smaller  falls 
is  entirely  finished;  it  is  one  and  a  half  mile  in  length,  four 
locks  ten  feet  high  placed  at  its  upper  extremity  convey  ves- 
sels down  the  river.  The  smaller  falls  are  not  strictly  such, 
but  the  water  is  sufficiently  checked  and  disturbed  in  its 
course  to  render  the  navigation  impracticable  and  the  noise 
it  makes  is  considerable.  Above  the  smaller  falls  at  a  place 
where  the  Potomac  is  confined  to  a  narrow  passage  between 
mountains  a  bridge  has  been  lately  erected  of  the  same  kind 
(suspension)  as  the  bridge  of  Merrymack  near  Newburyport 
in  Massachusetts,  the  same  architect  was  employed  in  both. 
The  canal  of  the  Great  Falls  is  also  finished  excepting  the 
locks  which  are  to  be  ten  in  number.  The  height  of  the  falls 
themselves  is  seventy-eight  feet  and  the  descent  from  the 
upper  end  of  the  canal  to  the  lower  end  is  about  ninety  feet. 
To  make  some  use  of  the  canal  in  its  present  state  till  the 
locks  can  be  completed  large  masses  of  earth  are  left  to  check 
the  rapidity  of  the  water,  vessels  proceed  to  the  places  where 
these  are  and  the  barrels  of  flour  and  hogsheads  of  tobacco 
which  are  the  principal  articles  brought  down  the  river  are 
rolled  down  an  inclined  plane  made  of  wood  (for  this  tem- 
porary use)  to  vessels  that  wait  for  them  below.  The  Great 
Fall  of  the  Potowmack  is  beautiful  and  deserves  to  be  visited 
by  all  who  arrive  in  this  neighborhood." 

Page  315 : 


Appendix  E.  189 

"A  company  has  been  incorporated  by  the  states  of  Va. 
and  Md.  in  1784  by  the  name  of  the  Potowmack  Company 
with  a  grant  of  tolls  on  different  canals  they  had  undertaken. 
The  adoption  of  establishing  the  General  Government  on  the 
banks  of  the  Potowmack  gave  new  activity  to  those  under- 
takings which  had  begun  to  languish.  In  1795  the  shares 
of  this  company  which  at  its  establishment  amounted  to  five 
hundred  at  $444  each  were  increased  to  six  hundred  and 
thus  the  company  had  the  disposal  of  $270,400  to  improve  the 
navigation  of  the  Potowmack.  The  states  of  Va.  and  Md. 
were  moreover  particularly  interested  in  the  success  of  the 
company  by  being  proprietors  of  a  great  number  of  shares. 
When  the  undertakings  of  this  company  shall  be  finished  the 
produce  of  an  immense  extent  of  country  which  at  present 
is  conveyed  by  land  to  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  will  find 
a  more  ample,  ready  and  less  expensive  market  through  the 
means  of  this  great  river  and  Federal  City  will  acquire  new 
resources  both  for  its  consumption  and  commerce,  adding 
greatly  to  the  natural  advantages  of  its  situation. ' ' 

'^  Travels  tlirough.  the  States  of  North  America  and 
the  Provinces  of  Upper  and  Lower  Canada,  1795-6-7," 
by  Isaac  Weld,  Jr.    London,  1799.     Page  37 : 

"Thus  it  appears  that  the  Federal  City  is  possessed  of 
essential  qualifications  for  making  it  a  place  of  importance — 
that  is  a  good  harbour  (Eastern  Branch)  from  which  there  is 
a  ready  passage  to  the  ocean;  it  will  also  appear  that  it  is 
well  situated  for  trading  with  the  interior  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. .  .  .  The  navigation  of  the  Potowmack  is  safe  to  the 
Little  Falls,  six  miles  up,  for  river  craft,  here  a  canal  which 
extends  two  and  a  half  miles  .  .  .  has  been  cut  and  perfected 
which  opens  a  fine  passage  of  boats  as  far  as  Great  Falls.  .  .  . 
The  descent  of  the  river  there  is  76  feet  in  one  and  a  quarter 
mile,  but  it  is  intended  to  make  another  canal  here  also ;  a 
part  of  it  is  already  cut  and  every  exertion  is  making  to  have 
the  whole  completed  with  expedition.  From  hence  to  Fort 
Cumberland,  191  miles  above  the  Federal  City  there  is  a  free 
navigation  and  boats  are  continually  passing  up  and  down. 


190  Appendix  E. 

Beyond  this  the  passage  in  the  river  is  obstructed,  but  there 
is  a  possibility  of  opening  it  and  as  soon  as  the  Company 
formed  for  the  purpose  have  sufficient  funds  it  will  certainly 
be  done.  .  .  .  Thence  to  Cheat  River  is  only  37  miles.  .  .  . 
Things  are  only  great  or  small  by  comparison  and  a  portage 
of  only  37  miles  will  be  thought  a  very  short  one  when  found 
to  be  the  only  interruption  to  an  inland  navigation  of  up- 
wards of  2700  miles  of  which  2187  are  down  stream  (Mr. 
"Weld  traces  the  routes  to  Detroit  and  even  far  "Winnepeg  via 
this  route)." 

''General  History  of  Inland  Navigation, Foreign  and 
Domestic."  John  Phillips.  New  edition.  London,  1795. 
(Printed  in  1793.)     Page  352 : 

"Several  improvements  are  carrying  on  in  the  States  of 
Virginia.  .  .  .  The  distance  from  the  Capes  of  Virginia  to  the 
terminations  of  the  tide-way  in  the  river  Potomak  is  about 
300  miles  and  the  river  is  navigable  for  ships  of  the  greatest 
burthen  to  that  place;  from  thence  it  is  obstructed  by  four 
considerable  falls  and  runs  through  a  vast  tract  of  inhabi- 
tated  country  towards  its  source.  These  falls  are  1st,  The 
little  falls  three  miles  above  tide-water, — 2dny,  The  great 
falls,  six  miles  higher,  where  is  a  fall  of  76  feet  in  one  and 
a  quarter  mile, — 3dly,  The  Seneca  falls  6  miles  above  the 
former  which  form  short  irregular  rapids  with  a  fall  of  about 
ten  feet,  and  4thly,  The  Shenandoah  falls  60  miles  from  the 
Seneca  which  is  a  fall  of  about  30  feet  in  three  miles,  from 
which  last  Fort  Cumberland  is  about  120  miles  distant.  The 
obstructions  which  are  opposed  to  the  navigation  above  and 
between  these  falls  are  of  little  consequence.  Early  in  the 
year  1785  the  legislatures  of  Virginia  and  Maryland  passed 
acts  to  encourage  opening  the  navigation  of  this  river.  It 
was  estimated  that  the  expense  of  the  canals  and  other  works 
would  amount  to  £50,000  sterling  and  ten  years  was  allowed 
for  their  completion.  At  present  the  president  and  directors 
of  the  incorporated  company  suppose  that  £45.000  will  be 
sufficient  for  the  undertaking,  and  that  it  will  be  accomplished 
in  a  shorter  time  than  was  estimated.     Their  calculations  are 


'^:fc-^^^^ 


/^/'/i^A^  ^Jiv~^ 


Autographs  of  Stockholders  in  the  Patowmack  Company. 


Appendix  E.  191 

founded  on  the  progress  already  made  and  the  summary  mode 
lately  adopted  for  enforcing  the  collection  of  the  dividends 
as  the  money  may  become  necessary.  On  each  share  of  £100 
the  payment  of  only  £4  has  yet  been  demanded.  According 
to  the  opinion  of  the  president  and  directors  locks  will  be 
necessary  at  only  two  places,  the  great  and  the  little  falls; 
six  at  the  former  and  three  at  the  latter.  At  the  latter  place 
nothing  has  yet  been  attempted.  At  the  great  falls  where  the 
difficulties  were  judged  by  many  to  be  insurmountable  the 
work  is  nearly  completed,  except  sinking  the  lock  seats  and 
inserting  the  frames.  At  the  Seneca  falls  the  laborious  part 
of  the  business  is  entirely  accomplished  by  removing  the 
obstacles  and  graduating  the  descent  so  that  nothing  remains 
but  to  finish  the  channel  for  the  general  current  in  a  Avork- 
manlike  manner. 

"At  the  Shenandoah  where  the  river  breaks  through  the 
Blue  Ridge  mountains  though  a  prodigious  quantity  of  labour 
has  been  bestowed  yet  much  is  still  to  be  done  before  the  pas- 
sage will  be  completed.  Such  a  progress  has  been  made  how- 
ever that  it  was  expected,  if  the  summer  had  not  proved  un- 
commonly rainy  and  the  river  uncommonly  high  an  avenue 
for  a  partial  navigation  would  have  been  opened  by  the  1st. 
of  January,  1789,  from  Fort  Cumberland  to  the  great  falls 
which  are  within  nine  miles  of  a  shipping  port.  As  soon  as 
the  proprietors  begin  to  receive  toll  they  will  doubtless  find 
an  ample  compensation  for  their  pecuniary  advances.  By  an 
estimate  made  years  ago,  it  was  calculated  that  the  amount  in 
the  commencement  would  be  at  the  rate  of  £9,875  Virginia 
currency  per  annum.  The  toll  must  every  year  become  more 
productive  as  the  quantity  of  articles  for  exportation  will  be 
augmented  in  a  rapid  proportion  with  the  increase  of  popu- 
lation and  the  extension  of  settlements.  In  the  meantime  the 
effect  will  be  immediately  seen  in  the  agriculture  of  the  inte- 
rior country,  for  the  multitude  of  horses  now  employed  in 
carrying  its  produce  to  market  will  then  be  used  for  the  pur- 
pose of  tillage.  But  in  order  to  form  just  conceptions  of  the 
utility  of  this  inland  navigation  it  will  be  requisite  to  notice 
the  long  rivers  which  fall  into  the  Patowmak  and  even  the 


192  Appendix  E. 

geographical  position  of  the  western  waters.  The  Shenan- 
doah which  disembogues  just  above  the  Blue  Mountains  may 
according  to  report,  be  made  navigable  at  a  trifling  expense 
more  than  150  miles  from  its  confluence  with  the  Patowmak 
and  will  receive  and  convey  the  produce  of  the  richest  part 
of  the  State.  The  South  branch  still  higher  is  navigable  in 
its  present  condition  nearly,  or  quite,  100  miles  through  ex- 
tremely fertile  lands.  But  there  on  the  Virginia  side  are 
several  small  rivers  that  may  with  facility  be  improved  so 
as  to  afford  a  passage  for  boats.  On  the  Maryland  side  are 
the  IMonocacy,  Antietam  and  Conogocheague,  some  of  which 
pass  through  the  State  of  Maryland  and  have  their  sources  in 
Pennsylvania. 

"From  Fort  Cumberland  (or  Wills  Creek)  one  or  two  good 
waggon  roads  may  be  made,  by  which  the  distance  will  be 
about  35  miles  to  the  Yohogany,  a  large  and  navigable  branch 
of  the  ]\Ionongahela,  which  last  forms  a  junction  with  the 
Allegany  at  Fort  Pitt,  from  whence  the  river  takes  the  name 
of  the  Ohio  until  that  also  loses  its  current  and  name  in  the 
Mississippi.  .  .  .  "When  we  have  arrived  at  either  of  these 
western  waters  the  navigation  through  that  immense  country 
is  opened  in  a  thousand  directions  and  to  the  lakes  in  several 
places  by  portage  of  less  than  ten  miles  and  by  one  portage  of 
one  mile  only. ' ' 

''Pictures  of  the  City  of  Washington  in  the  Past." 
Samuel  C.  Busey,  M.D.,  LL.D.    Wash,  1898.    Page  297 : 

"In  marked  contrast  with  the  unfavorable  criticisms  and 
maladie  du  pays  of  some  of  the  honorable  and  official  croakers 
are  Warden's  delightful  pictures  of  the  salubrity  of  the  climate, 
fertility  of  the  soil,  abundance  and  variety  of  the  food  supplies, 
vegetable  and  animal,  game  and  fish,  together  with  the  products 
transported  from  a  distance  by  water,  especially  from  the  inte- 
rior of  jMaryland  and  Virginia  by  the  Potomac  Canal  Com- 
pany, chartered  in  1784  by  the  Legislature  of  Maryland,  and 
Shenandoah  Navigation  Company,  chartered  by  the  Legisla- 
ture of  Va.,  through  which  was  brought  to  the  portage  town  of 


Appendix  E.  193 

Georgetown  in  a  single  year  (1811)  '27  hogsheads  of  sugar, 
118,076  barrels  of  flour,  5718  barrels  of  whiskey,  465  bushels  of 
wheat,  36Q0  bushels  of  maize,  and,  in  addition,  large  quantities 
of  pig-iron,  castings,  ship-timber,  rye,  flax-seed,  hemp,  butter, 
oats,  cloverseed,  arms,  and  staves. '  The  method  of  transporta- 
tion is  described  by  Mr.  Thomas  W.  Kiley  as  follows :  '  In  my 
boyhood  days  there  was  a  great  deal  of  business  done  in  wiiat 
were  known  as  arks  by  those  who  lived  on  the  upper  Potomac. 
They  had  no  other  way  to  bring  their  wheat,  corn,  oats,  hay, 
and  other  produce  to  market.  These  arks  were  large  wooden 
floats,  put  together  in  a  substantial,  though  inexpensive  man- 
ner with  wooden  bolts  and  pins.  They  carried  a  great  deal. 
These  arks  were  floated  down  the  river,  and  helped  with  poles 
where  they  were  not  carried  by  the  current.  On  their  arrival 
in  Georgetown,  after  their  contents  were  sold,  the  arks  were 
taken  to  pieces  and  the  lumber  sold.  I  have  seen  hundreds 
of  them.  This  was  before  the  opening  of  the  Ches.  and  0. 
Canal.  People  nowadays  talk  about  push  and  enterprise,  as 
if  it  were  a  new  invention  and  they  the  only  discoverers  of  it. 
Though  I  have  always  tried  to  keep  up  with  the  procession  in 
a  business  way,  I  assure  you  I  have  seen  evidences  of  a  "get 
there"  spirit  among  the  grandfathers  of  some  of  the  business 
men  of  today  that  surpassed  much  of  their  so-called  push. 
These  ark-owners  had  goods  to  sell,  and,  though  they  did  not 
come  with  lightning  speed,  they  got  down  to  market  just  the 
same.'  " 

From  the  National  Intelligencer,  Washington,  Aug. 
23,  1802. 

''Potomack  Navigation. — At  a  meeting  of  the  Potomack 
Company  held  on  Wednesday  the  second  instant  a  dividend 
of  the  capital  stock  at  the  rate  of  three  per  cent  per  annum 
was  declared  for  the  time  since  the  locks  at  the  Great  Falls 
have  been  opened  and  $5.55  per  share,  the  amount  thereof 
will  be  paid  to  the  respective  stock  holders  or  to  their  legal 
representatives  on  demand,  by  the  treasurer  of  the  Company. 
By  order  of  the  Board.  James  Carleton,  Treasurer. 

"Georgetown,  Aug.  11,  1802." 

14 


194  Appendix  E. 

Baltimore  {American!),  Jan.  10,  1804: 

' '  So  fully  were  we  of  the  opinion  that  our  legislature  would 
have  granted  the  respectfull  and  patriotic  petition  of  so  large 
and  respectable  a  portion  of  their  constituency  for  passing  the 
necessary  laws  for  erecting  turnpike  companies  on  the  three 
principal  roads  leading  from  this  city  (Baltimore)  that  with- 
out adverting  to  the  possibility  that  such  might  not  be  the 
case  we  took  the  liberty  of  pointing  the  public  zeal  to  a  quar- 
ter which  appeared  to  be  of  primary  importance  to  this  city, 
to  Frederick,  Washington  and  Allegany  counties.  If  any 
man  who  is  capable  of  following  its  delineations  will  take  the 
map  of  j\Iaryland  and  view  the  circuitous  route  by  which  the 
productions  of  these  counties  and  the  neighboring  districts  of 
Pennsylvania  have  to  reach  this  city;  if  he  will  take  a  chaise 
and  travel  the  miry  sloughs,  the  dreadful  precipices,  the 
often-times  impassable  streams  which  would  every  where 
freeze  him  with  horror  chills,  he  could  not  fail  to  be  aston- 
ished at  that  perseverance  in  the  farmer  and  waggoner  which 
overcome  all  these  difficulties  and  fill  our  warehouses  with 
their  various  and  burthensome  productions.  The  other  roads, 
though  not  so  immediately  important,  are  in  a  situation  no 
better.  The  Baltimorean  may  solace  himself  in  the  idle 
dream  that  this  city  notwithstanding  all  these  obstacles  will 
continue  to  flourish  and  to  be  the  emporium  of  this  enriching 
commerce.  Vain  delusion!  In  less  than  ten  years  (since  the 
talents  and  wisdom  of  our  legislators  have  suffered  the  present 
opportunity  to  slip)  without  having  it  in  our  power  here- 
after to  counteract  its  effects,  a  capitol  will  be  established  at 
Washington,  Georgetown  and  Alexandria,  or  at  all  three  of 
them  which  will  completely  turn  the  current  of  that  trade 
from  our  metropolis.  A  few  years  ago  we  inspected  as  much 
flour  in  one  quarter  as  the  above  places  did  in  four,  but  the 
last  year  but  one,  if  our  information  is  correct,  or  the  year 
before  that,  two  of  them  only  inspected  several  thousand  bar- 
rels more  than  we  did.  Other  produce  of  the  west,  no  doubt, 
kept  equal  pace  and  in  a  few  years  more,  foreign  orders  for 
the  shipment  of  tobacco,  flour,  etc.,  will  be  transferred  from 
this  to  the  Potomak."     Etc.,  etc. 


Appendix  E.  195 

From  Tlie  Museum,  George  Town,  Jan.  1,  1809. 
Editorial. 

"The  inland  navigation  of  the  Potomak  for  300  miles  above 
through  a  country  excelled  by  none  in  fertility,  is  a  source 
from  which  George  Town  must  derive  immense  commercial 
advantages.  The  valuable  productions  of  that  extensive  re- 
gion rapidly  increasing  with  the  advancement  of  agriculture 
and  the  extension  of  population  must  be  poured  into  her  lap 
and  deposited  with  her  merchants.  Already  among  other 
articles  upwards  of  100,000  barrels  of  flour  in  one  season  have 
been  floated  down  the  stream,  .  .  .  Cannon  Foundry  and 
paper  mill,  Mason's  Island,  Causeway  to  Virginia,  Bridge  at 
Little  Falls  (chain)  Georgetown  College,  Columbian  College 
Three  Ladies'  Academies.     Thos.  Corcoran  Mayor."     Etc. 

"July  19th,  1796,  Georgetown.  On  Friday  arrived  here 
Robert  Liston  Esquire,  the  British  Minister  with  his  lady 
accompanied  by  Edward  Thornton,  his  secretary,  Gabriel 
Wood,  British  Consul  for  this  State  and  Henry  ]\Iurray  Stew- 
art, second  son  of  the  Earl  of  Bute.  Yesterday  they  made  an 
excursion  to  the  great  falls  of  Potomac,  to  day  they  are  to 
proceed  to  Mt.  Vernon. ' ' 

From  Baltimore  Advertiser: 

' '  For  Rent,  Merchant  Mill,  Distillery  and  Brewery,  also  sun- 
dry stone  quarries  at  Little  Falls  of  Potomac,  for  any  time 
not  less  than  seven  or  more  than  eleven  years.  Mill  House 
42x40  ft.,  three  stories  built  of  stone,  3  pair  of  French  burr 
stones,  2  over-shot,  18  feet  water  wheels,  Evans  machinery 
complete  with  every  other  thing  proper  and  necessary  for 
carrying  on  the  business  with  despatch  and  as  little  expense 
as  possible ;  all  in  good  order.  From  mill  to  my  landing  on 
the  river  about  4  yards  and  then  to  George  Town  and  Wash- 
ington about  three  miles,  to  Alexandria  eleven  miles.  Also 
on  place  a  large  stone  cooper's  shop,  a  stone  granary  and  a 
commodious  miller's  house, — a  brick  building  on  river.  Also 
a  brewery  and  distillery  of  stone ;  in  them  are  three  stills,  six 
copper  boilers,  etc.,  all  in  good  order.     Quarries  on  this  land 


196  Appendix  E. 

on  river — finest  quality;  on  top  of  the  hill,  within  200  yards 
of  the  dwelling  house  with  out-buildings  and  gardens. 

"Richard  Fendall,  1796," 
"At  Little  Falls  in  1801  flour  mill  with  three  stones — brew- 
ery,   distillery — granary,    etc." — July   14,    1801,   Alexandria 
Advertiser. 

Taggart  in  ^'Old  Georgetown": 

"During  its  existence  the  trade  of  Georgetown  extended 
as  far  as  Fort  Osage  on  the  Missouri  to  Lake  Erie  and  to 
Mobile.  The  route  to  Fort  Osage  was  first  up  the  Potomac 
220  miles,  then  overland  to  Brownsville  on  the  Monongahela, 
a  branch  of  the  Ohio,  25  miles,  thence  down  the  Ohio  to  its 
junction  with  the  Mississippi,  up  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis 
and  afterwards  by  the  Missouri  to  the  Fort.  For  Lake  Erie 
the  goods  were  sent  over  the  same  route  to  Cincinnati  on  the 
Ohio,  thence  up  the  Miami  of  the  Ohio  to  its  farthest  point  at 
Loriraer's  Store,  thence  overland  35  miles  to  Fort  Wayne  on 
the  Miami  of  the  Lakes,  and  down  this  river  to  Lake  Erie. 
For  Mobile  the  goods  were  sent  from  Georgetown  to  Browns- 
ville by  the  above  route,  then  down  the  Monongahela  and  Ohio 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Tennessee  river,  then  up  this  river  to  the 
Mussel  Shoals,  or  to  Colbert's  Ferry,  thence  overland  to  the 
Tombigbee  at  the  junction  of  that  river  with  a  branch  called 
the  Yibby,  120  miles,  thence  down  the  Tombigbee  to  Mobile." 


Appendix  F. 

Report  of  Thos.  Moore,  Engineer,  of  Virginia. 

"Brookville,  Aug.  1,  1820. 

''Dear  Friend;  Agreeably  to  thy  request  I  will  endeavor 
to  state  some  of  the  results  derived  from  my  late  examination 
of  the  country  between  the  Ohio  and  Potomac  rivers,  with  the 
view  to  ascertain  the  practicability  of  uniting  those  rivers 
either  by  a  water  communication  the  whole  distance  or  by 
means  of  a  short  portage  between  the  nearest  practicable 
points  of  canal  navigation,  and  also  from  the  examination  of 
the  Potomac  river  in  order  to  ascertain  the  present  state  of 
the  navigation  and  the  best  means  of  improving  the  same. 

"With  regard  to  the  first — a  little  topographical  knowledge 
of  the  country  alluded  to  will  clearly  indicate  that  if  such  a 
connection  is  made  with  the  western  waters,  it  must  be  either 
with  the  waters  of  the  Cheat  or  Youghiogheny  river.  On 
examining  the  former  I  found  that  part  of  it  which  passes 
what  is  called  Dunkard's  Bottom  approaches  about  as  near 
to  the  Potomac  as  any  other  point  that  could  be  selected  for 
the  purpose,  and  for  about  5  miles  downward  the  fall  is  not 
too  great  for  a  sluice  navigation,  but  a  fall  then  occurs  of 
nearly  30  feet  (by  estimation)  in  one  mile,  the  lower  part  of 
which  is  too  abrupt  to  be  improved  by  any  other  means  than 
by  a  lock.  From  thence  to  the  mouth  of  Sandy  Creek,  about 
8  or  9  miles,  the  fall  is  very  considerable,  particularly  at  one 
place  where  it  is  much  greater  than  the  one  just  described. — 
Thence  to  Henthorn  's  Quarry  by  estimation  10  miles  from  the 
part  that  I  saw  and  a  description  of  the  remainder  I  should 
suppose  the  fall  might  average  about  10  feet  per  mile  and  not 
too  abrupt  in  any  one  place  to  be  overcome  by  sluices. — 
Thence  to  the  junction  with  the  Monongahela,  about  12  miles, 
it  has  been  declared  navigable  by  the  laws  of  Virginia. 

' '  It  appears  therefore  quite  certain  that  if  this  river  is  used 
a  considerable  expense  of  lockage  will  be  incurred  on  one  sec- 

197 


198  Appendix  F. 

tion  of  it,  the  remainder  may  be  made  a  tolerable  sluice  navi- 
gation for  about  8  months  in  the  year  except  when  interrupted 
by  ice.  From  the  Dunkard's  Bottom  to  the  mouth  of  Savage 
river  on  the  north  branch  of  the  Potomac  is  57  miles,  but  to 
Crab  Tree  run,  a  branch  of  Savage  river  at  Swan's  old  mill, 
the  highest  point  of  practicable  canal  navigation,  the  distance 
is  only  27  miles.  The  present  road  between  these  points  is 
injudiciously  located  and  is  in  many  places  very  steep,  I  think 
however  that  a  road  may  be  had  within  5%  of  aclivity  and 
declivity  without  increasing  the  distance. 

"If  the  waters  of  the  Youghiogheny  should  be  preferred, 
then  a  branch  called  Deep  creek  will  be  the  most  eligible. 
There  are  several  branches  of  this  stream  which  form  a  junc- 
tion and  compose  a  stream  which  may  answer  tolerably  well 
to  supply  the  summit  level  of  a  canal.  This  junction  is  about 
2  miles  west  of  a  low  gap  in  the  Alleghany  ridge  which  has 
been  long  spoken  of  as  a  suitable  point  of  connection  between 
the  eastern  and  w^estern  waters.  From  this  gap  the  levels 
were  taken  both  ways.  It  was  found  that  the  fall  westward 
to  the  point  mentioned  on  Deep  creek  was  204.03  feet.  The 
fall  eastward  to  the  junction  of  the  two  branches  of  Crab  Tree 
run  just  above  Gen.  Swan's  old  mill  is  340.99  feet,  the  dis- 
tance rather  less  than  two  miles.  The  fall  from  the  last  men- 
tioned point  to  the  mouth  of  Savage  river  is  1366.70  feet,  the 
distance  not  measured,  but  believed  to  be  about  13  miles.  It 
appears  then  that  the  waters  of  Deep  Creek  is  136.87  feet 
higher  than  the  waters  of  Crab  Tree  run  at  Swan's  mill,  and 
of  course  might  be  brought  through  by  a  tunnell  and  dis- 
charged into  the  Potomac,  but  in  case  of  a  canal  navigation 
the  tunnell  would  be  on  the  summit  level  and  the  waters  of 
Deep  creek  would  supply  locks  both  ways.  This  creek  lies  in 
the  Glades  and  the  ascent  from  it  towards  the  ridge  but  small 
for  a  considerable  distance.  I  think  therefore  that  by  driving 
up  an  open  canal  as  far  as  the  ground  would  permit,  and  then 
taking  the  shortest  possible  distance  to  the  level  on  the  other 
side  that  the  canal  would  not  exceed  2  miles  in  length.  I  be- 
lieve a  road  might  be  made  across  the  ridge  from  one  point  to 
the  other  at  3  degrees  that  would  not  exceed  5  miles  in  dis- 
tance. 


Appendix  F.  i99 

"Deep  creek  continues  to  flow  through  the  glades  10  to  12 
miles  below  the  before  mentioned  point,  and  then  with  a  rapid 
descent  (as  I  am  told)  falls  into  the  Youghiogheny.  From 
this  junction  to  the  National  road  I  have  seen  this  river  but 
partially,  I  know  however  from  former  surveys  that  at  the 
crossing  of  the  road  the  water  is  many  hundred  feet  nearer 
to  the  level  of  tide  water  than  the  water  of  Deep  creek.  From 
the  National  road  to  the  falls  I  am  acquainted  with  the  bed  of 
the  stream,  in  this  section  the  fall  is  very  great.  The  stream 
above  Turkey  Foot  where  three  great  branches  unite  and 
which  is  about  6  miles  below  the  road,  is  too  inconsiderable 
to  be  used  as  a  river  navigation,  and  below  Turkey  Foot  it  is 
too  rapid  and  dangerous  quite  to  the  foot  of  falls  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  Laurel  hill,  so  that  a  canal  and  lock  navigation 
must  be  adopted  from  the  first  mentioned  point  on  Deep  creek 
to  the  last  mentioned  on  Youghiogheny. 

"On  account  of  some  blanks  yet  remaining  between  the 
several  surveys  from  the  tide  water  across  to  the  western 
waters,  I  am  not  in  possession  of  data  to  determine  exactly 
the  whole  fall  in  this  distance,  but  in  round  numbers  it  will 
not  be  probably  much  over  or  under  1700  feet  to  be  overcome 
by  lockage.  On  the  eastern  side,  from  the  eastern  end  of  the 
tunnell  to  Swan's  mill,  the  fall  will  be  136.87  feet  and  from 
thence,  as  has  been  stated,  to  the  mouth  of  Savage,  1366.71, 
making  the  whole  to  be  overcome  by  lockage,  1503.58  feet. 

"From  the  mouth  of  Savage  to  the  mouth  of  New  creek,  a 
distance  of  8  miles,  33  perches  the  fall  by  the  leveling  of  Col. 
G.  Gilpin  and  J.  Smith,  is  190.8  feet  which  is  rather  more 
than  23  feet  per  mile.  This  may  probably  be  made  tolerably 
safe  for  descending  boats  4  or  5  months  in  the  year,  but  it  will 
always  be  excessively  laborious  to  ascend  with  any  loading ; — 
so,  that  to  make  the  navigation  materially  useful,  the  addition 
of  190  feet  must  be  added  to  the  lockage ;  from  the  mouth  of 
New  creek  to  Cumberland  22  l/'4  miles,  the  fall  is  254  feet,  the 
average  per  mile  11  1/2  feet.  On  this  section  some  money 
has  been  very  usefully  expended  and  with  a  little  more  im- 
provement might  be  rendered  navigable  for  keel  boats  carry- 
ing 100  barrels  of  flour  6  months  in  the  year. 


200  Appendix  F. 

''The  examination  of  the  river  from  Cumberland  down- 
wards M'as  commenced  on  the  10th  of  the  7th  month,  the  water 
having  fallen  very  rapidly  for  the  last  thre  or  four  days  pre- 
ceding, it  was  then  believed  to  be  lower  than  usual  at  the  same 
time  of  the  year.  I  think  if  the  water  had  been  all  collected 
in  a  20  foot  sluice  and  falling  with  a  velocity  that  would  be 
acquired  by  a  descent  of  6  inches  per  100  feet  it  would  have 
given  about  10  inches  of  water.  The  work  that  has  been  done 
for  the  first  9  or  10  miles  is  not  in  every  part  as  well  designed 
as  I  think  it  might  have  been,  but  much  better  than  is  usually 
seen.  There  has  been  however  more  money  expended  on  some 
parts  than  necessary,  and  other  parts  left  unfinished,  which 
require  the  expenditure  of  a  small  sum  to  render  the  whole  in 
the  greatest  degree  useful.  Thence  down  to  the  mouth  of  the 
south  branch  the  river  has  been  partially  improved  but  for 
want  of  a  little  annual  attention  many  of  these  improvements 
are  gone  out  of  repair,  a  moderate  sum  would  place  the  river 
from  Cumberland  to  south  branch  in  a  tolerable  state  for 
sluice  navigation,  when  there  is  water,  which  perhaps  cannot 
be  counted  on  for  more  than  about  half  the  year. 

"Below  the  south  branch  there  was  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
water  to  give  at  least  15  inches  depth  in  a  well  graduated 
sluice,  the  bed  of  the  river  below  the  junction  of  the  two 
branches  becomes  wider,  and  of  course  improvements  will 
generally  be  rather  more  expensive.  j\Iany  of  the  worst  places 
above  Hancock  Town  have  been  a  little  improved,  at  the  Tum- 
bling dam  falls  there  is  a  good  sluice,  except  that  it  requires  a 
farther  extension  at  the  lower  end  to  diminish  the  fall  in  that 
part  which  is  very  hard  to  ascend,  but  at  the  bare  falls  just 
below  there  has  been  a  long  sluice  made  some  years  ago,  the 
location  of  w-hich  on  a  converse  shore  is  so  very  injudicious 
that  it  is  nearly  filled  with  gravel  and  will  probably  soon  be 
rendered  entirely  useless.  There  are  several  others  that  are 
of  little  service,  some  of  them  have  been  spoiled  by  the  inter- 
ference of  fish  dams,  several  of  these  are  a  serious  injury  to 
the  navigation.  There  are  many  shallow  places  which  require 
improvement  in  this  section,  but  none  that  need  be  expensive. 
I  think  the  proper  expenditure  of  $500  to  600  would  now  give 


Appendix  F.  201 

water  for  keel  boats  with  100  barrels  of  flour  at  all  times 
except  in  unusually  dry  seasons,  from  the  south  branch  to 
Hancock  Town.  From  Hancock  to  Williamsport  very  little 
has  been  done  to  improve  the  navigation,  or  at  least  there  are 
at  present  but  few  visible  remains  of  such  efforts.  The  greater 
part  of  this  distance  requires  but  little.  I  think  from  $2000 
to  3000  would  be  quite  sufficient  to  effect  all  that  is  necessary 
to  be  done  on  this  section. 

"From  Williamsport  to  Sheppards  Town  it  does  not  appear 
that  any  labor  has  been  performed  in  the  bed  of  the  river,  but 
little  is  necessary,  yet  there  are  a  few  places  that  might  be 
improved. 

"Just  below  Sheppards  Town  a  long  shallow  ripple  (Pack 
Horse  Ford)  occurs  in  the  river  which  is  here  wide,  no  con- 
nected channel  either  natural  or  artificial  is  to  be  found 
through  the  ripple,  the  water  ought  to  be  collected  and  a  little 
swelled  by  wings  in  proper  directions.  $500  or  600  judi- 
ciously expended  would  probably  render  it  permanently  good. 
The  navigation  is  then  good  to  the  head  of  the  long  canal  at 
the  beginning  of  the  Shenandoah  Falls;  the  entrance  to  this 
canal  is  somewhat  difficult  in  high  water,  it  may  be  rendered 
safer  by  extending  an  abutment  into  the  river  on  the  lower 
side  to  prevent  the  strong  draft  of  water  just  without  the 
present  entrance.  The  current  is  very  strong  through  the 
canal,  but  with  care  safe  to  descend.  The  ascent  is  very 
laborious,  but  is  much  facilitated  by  a  substantial  wall  and 
tracking  way  where  ropes  can  be  used  to  great  advantage. 
About  half  a  mile  below  the  Ferry  are  two  short  canals 
(called  by  the  boatmen — the  Bullring  falls)  taken  together 
with  a  short  sheet  of  smooth  water  between  them,  the  distance 
may  be  one  quarter  of  a  mile,  the  fall  is  6.6  feet.  Opposite 
this  point  Mc.Pherson  and  Brien  have  proposed  to  erect  iron 
works  if  a  compromise  can  be  made  with  the  Potomac  Com- 
pany. If  such  an  arrangement  was  made,  the  canal  above 
the  works  ought  to  be  sufficiently  capacious  to  admit  water  for 
the  works  and  also  for  navigation  and  any  other  proposition 
which  the  Company  may  have  occasion  for  at  a  point  rather 
more  than  half  mile  lower  down,  where  there  should  be  a  lock 


202  Appendix  F. 

to  descend  into  the  river  and  where  the  fall  will  be  8.80  feet. 
The  fall  from  the  head  of  Shenandoah  falls  to  the  landing  at 
Harpers  Ferry  is  26.75  feet.  This  was  ascertained  by  finding 
the  difference  in  the  levels  between  the  surface  of  the  water 
in  the  U.  S.  canal  when  the  gates  were  all  shut  and  the  water 
at  the  landing. 

"From  the  lower  end  of  Bullring  to  Paynes  falls  the  navi- 
gation is  troublesome  in  low  water,  it  requires  swelling  so  as 
to  give  6  or  8  inches  more  water  and  the  course  straightened. 
At  these  falls  Bazil  Deaver  is  now  erecting  a  mill  dam,  I 
suppose  without  the  permission  of  the  Company,  but  if  the 
sluice  and  some  other  works  are  completed  agreeably  to  what 
he  proposes  the  navigation  will  be  rather  improved  than  in- 
jured. The  river  below  for  some  miles  is  wide  and  shallow, 
swelling  the  water  will  be  the  best  remedy.  From  the  Bull- 
ring for  6  miles  downwards,  I  think  the  cost  of  improving 
may  be  estimated  at  $500  per  mile,  though  I  am  well  satisfied 
a  less  sum  would  answer  the  purpose  if  the  best  economy  could 
be  adopted  in  the  expenditure.  'A  little  improvement  is  nec- 
essary in  the  low  w^ater  course  between  the  lower  end  of  the 
long  canal  and  Harpers  Ferry. 

''From  the  head  of  the  island  at  Noland's  ferry  to  about  one 
and  a  half  mile  below  there  are  several  very  shallow  places 
with  but  little  fall.  They  ought  to  be  improved  by  a  few  low 
dams  of  brush  and  stone.  The  expense  would  be  little  if  man- 
aged to  the  best  advantage;  there  is  perhaps  less  depth  of 
water  on  these  shoals  than  is  to  be  found  at  any  other  place 
below  Harpers  Ferry. 

' '  From  these  shoals  to  Seneca  falls  very  little  improvement 
is  necessary,  in  a  few  places  the  removal  of  loose  stones  would 
be  useful.  The  dam  at  Seneca  requires  repairing  so  as  to 
turn  more  water  into  the  canal,  at  present  there  is  not  enough 
to  float  our  little  skiff,  we  were  under  the  necessity  of  going 
down  through  the  falls.  Boatmen  who  are  acquainted  with 
the  outer  course  may  pass  down  Avith  safety,  but  it  is  very 
hard  to  ascend.  There  certainly  ought  to  be  at  least  as  much 
water  in  the  canal  at  all  times  as  would  float  an  ascending 
boat  with  a  small  load.     Between  Seneca  and  Great  Falls 


Appendix  F.  203 

there  has  been  some  work  done  to  improve  the  bed  of  the  river, 
generally  to  pretty  good  effect,  but  for  want  of  timely  atten- 
tion some  of  these  works  are  gone  out  of  repair,  and  do  not 
answer  the  purpose  intended. 

"The  greatest  obstruction  to  the  navigation  any  where 
below  Williamsport  in  the  present  state  of  the  water  is  at 
Great  Falls.  The  dam  requires  repairing  and  extending  so 
as  to  give  at  least  six  or  eight  inches  more  water  in  the  canal. 
At  present  boats  with  only  50  barrels  are  obliged  to  make 
double  trips,  and  where  there  are  several  in  company  there  is 
great  detention  for  want  of  water  to  supply  the  locks. 

"The  bed  of  the  river  from  Great  Falls  to  the  head  of  the 
Little  Falls  canal  is  generally  very  rough,  much  labor  has  been 
bestowed  on  it  for  the  improvement  of  the  navigation  which 
has  in  a  considerable  degree  produced  the  intended  effect,  but 
something  still  remains  to  be  done  in  order  to  give  sufficient 
depth  of  water  in  all  places,  and  also  to  render  the  falls  more 
easy  for  ascending  boats  at  all  stages  of  the  water.  The  most 
important  part  of  the  w^ork  appears  to  be  to  make  the  track- 
ing way  over  the  rocks  near  Great  Falls  more  perfect;  the 
current  in  this  part  of  the  river  is  so  rapid  in  high  water  that 
it  renders  useless  the  common  means  of  ascending  by  setting 
poles,  and  the  unevenness  of  the  crags  on  the  shore  makes  it 
extremely  difficult  and  dangerous  to  carry  a  towing  line  over 
them,  yet  this  expedient  has  been  resorted  to,  it  is  very  prob- 
able that  where  the  rocks  are  smooth  or  at  the  turning  of  par- 
ticular points,  a  chain  might  be  attached  to  the  rock  by  ring 
bolts  or  pins,  so  as  to  be  very  useful,  it  might  be  light  and 
would  be  a  cheap  improvement. 

At  Stubblefield  Falls  the  pass  is  safe  for  descending  boats 
except  that  the  rapidity  of  the  current  over  the  uneven  bottom 
produces  a  roughness  that  causes  them  when  fully  laden  to 
ship  water,  but  the  angle  of  ascent  is  so  great  and  situated  in 
the  middle  of  the  river  where  no  advantage  can  be  derived 
from  towing  that  it  is  vain  to  think  of  ascending  with  any- 
thing like  a  full  load  with  the  usual  number  of  hands  until  a 
new  passage  is  procured  or  the  present  one  better  graduated. 
At  the  Crookes  gap  (as  it  is  called)  the  location  of  the  works 


204  Appendix  F. 

is  very  unnatural  and  of  course  very  injudicious,  the  passage 
is  made  tolerabW  safe  and  easy  to  ascend  and  descend  at  some 
stages  of  the  water  at  others  dangerous  and  difficult;  but  of 
such  a  form  and  occupying  ground  as  will  cause  it  to  require 
an  annual  attention  and  perhaps  oftener,  to  preserve  at  all 
times  sufficient  depth  of  water. 

"I  think  it  may  be  relied  on  that  from  $18,000  to  20,000 
would  now  place  the  navigation  in  such  a  situation  that  boats 
carrying  100  barrels  of  flour  might  descend  the  river  at  all 
times  from  the  mouth  of  the  south  branch  to  tide  water,  except 
in  an  unusually  dry  season,  above  Williamsport  a  short  time, 
or  when  prevented  by  ice.  But  in  this  calculation  I  should 
certainly  contemplate  a  more  economical  expenditure  than 
has  commonly  been  made  in  this  description  of  improvement." 

"There  are  some  sluices  in  the  Potomac  and  also  in  other 
rivers  which  I  have  examined,  that  have  been  made  in  a  proper 
direction,  not  one  of  which  has  ever  filled  with  gravel  or 
stone. ' ' 

"But  when  the  powers  of  art  have  been  exerted  to  the  ut- 
most extent  to  procure  an  easy  navigation  in  the  bed  of  a 
stream,  still  it  must  hold  a  very  inferior  grade  to  that  of  an 
independent  canal,  because  the  natural  fall  of  the  river  must 
be  overcome  by  the  labor  of  men,  and  if  the  whole  fall  of  the 
river  is  great  in  proportion  to  its  length  it  will  require  a  great 
number  and  therefore  in  proportion  to  the  length  must  be 
very  expensive  compared  with  a  canal  furnished  with  locks, 
where  the  loaded  boats  are  drawn  on  level  water,  by  the  labor 
of  horses,  but  this  kind  of  improvement  requires  large  funds 
for  carrying  it  into  effect,  and  should  not  be  undertaken  until 
the  period  arrives  that  gives  a  reasonable  prospect  of  remun- 
eration from  the  trade  that  may  be  carried  on  through  its 
channels.  The  transportation  however  on  such  a  canal  is  so 
much  cheaper  than  by  any  other  means  of  internal  communi- 
cation that  it  may  happen  and  I  believe  sometimes  does  hap- 
pen that  such  a  period  arrives  before  those  interested  think 


Appendix  F.  205 

of  making  a  single  calculation  on  the  subject.  Knowing  the 
great  superiority  of  this  mode  of  improvement  and  believing 
that  it  may  possibly  be  at  some  time  adopted  on  the  Potomac, 
I  have  so  far  made  myself  acquainted  with  the  ground  adja- 
cent to  the  river  as  to  enable  me  to  form  an  estimate  of  the 
expense  of  an  independent  canal  from  Cumberland  to  the 
Great  Falls,  I  have  on  my  notes  such  a  description  of  these 
grounds  as  could  be  obtained  from  the  river  without  a  minute 
re-examination  on  shore.  From  these  it  does  not  appear  that 
the  excavation  would  be  more  expensive  than  the  contem- 
plated canal  on  the  James  river,  nor  the  walling  greater  in 
proportion  to  the  distance.  It  was  found  from  the  prices 
given  for  removing  earth  and  other  work  incident  to  the  con- 
struction of  a  canal  that  the  one  just  mentioned  ought  not  to 
cost  more  than  $4,300  per  mile  exclusive  of  the  locks.  From 
Cumberland  to  the  Great  Falls  is  176  miles,  which  multiplied 
by  4,300  gives  756,800,  the  fall  in  that  distance  is  572  feet 
which  multiplied  by  $65,  the  price  per  foot  at  which  such 
lockage  is  estimated  gives  357,500,  amounting  to  the  total  of 
$1,114,300.  This  whole  compared  wdth  the  cost  of  some  other 
canals  appears  to  be  a  low  estimate,  but  it  is  to  be  remem- 
bered that  canals  conducted  on  low  levels  along  the  ravine  of 
a  river  have  no  deep  valleys  or  ravines  to  cross  as  those  must 
necessarily  have  on  high  levels  in  an  uneven  country,  and 
therefore  the  great  embankments  and  elevated  aqueducts 
which  constituted  the  largest  items  of  expense  in  many  canals 
are  avoided, — tlie  calculation  is  also  made  for  a  canal  and 
locks  of  a  moderate  size. 

"On  such  a  canal  as  this  the  actual  cost  of  transportation 
for  a  barrel  of  flour  from  Cumberland  to  the  Great  Falls 
would  not  exceed  15  cents,  nor  a  bushel  of  coal  6  cents,  and 
other  articles  in  proportion,  provided  the  boats  were  supplied 
with  a  quarter  back  load  of  plaster  of  paris  or  anything  else 
at  the  low  price  of  $3  per  ton.  It  is  for  those  who  are  con- 
cerned and  who  are  better  acquainted  with  the  present  trade 
of  the  river  and  the  future  prospects  to  calculate  whether  such 
a  toll  can  be  added  to  these  prices  as  will  pay  the  interest  on 
the  capital  above  stated,  and  also  the  necessary  capital  for 


2o6  Appendix  F. 

continuing  the  canal  to  tide  water.  Several  considerations 
were  presented  relative  to  this  lower  section  which  I  thought 
required  more  time  to  digest  than  I  felt  myself  authorized  to 
take,  particularly  as  some  of  them  were  of  such  a  nature  as  to 
place  them  without  the  line  of  my  duty  for  decision.  I  did 
not  therefore  take  any  notes  relative  to  the  grounds  for,  or 
expense  of,  an  independent  canal  below  the  Great  Falls. 

"The  section  below  Harpers  Ferry  would  be  the  least  ex- 
pensive for  the  distance.  As  the  season  is  now  too  far  ad- 
vanced to  undertake  any  considerable  works  on  the  bed  of  the 
river  this  year,  time  will  be  given  for  consideration  relative  to 
the  most  proper  mode  of  expending  money  in  future  on  this 
most  important  river,  and  of  obtaining  more  minute  informa- 
tion with  respect  to  the  expense  of  improving  the  different 
sections  on  the  best  of  all  possible  plans,  for  notwithstanding 
the  cost  may  in  the  first  instance  appear  discouraging,  yet  the 
object  is  a  great  one,  even  as  it  regards  the  legitimate  trade 
of  the  country  watered  by  the  river  and  its  branches,  but  it 
derives  great  additional  imxportance  from  the  circumstance 
of  the  National  road  being  already  made  and  offering  the 
means  of  connecting  the  trade  of  this  river  with  the  western 
country. 

"I  am  with  great  regard,  thy  friend 

"Thos.  Moore. 

"To  Gen.  John  Mason." 

Repokt  of  the  Boakd  op  Public  Wokks  to  the  Legis- 

LATUKE  of  Vieginia,  1823.     Repokt  on  the  Potomac, 

By  Isaac  Bkiggs. 

"Pursuant  to  resolutions  of  the  ex-officio  members  of  your 
Board,  dated  Oct.  1822  empowering  me  to  ask  for  and  receive 
from  the  executors  or  heirs  of  Thos.  Moore,  the  civil  engineer 
lately  deceased,  all  the  rough  notes  of  this  year's  work,  as  far 
as  actually  done,  or  begun  by  the  said  Moore,  and  directing 
me  to  make  therefrom  the  necessary  arrangements,  calcula- 
tions and  statements  for  the  annual  report  to  the  Board  of 
Public  Works  and  to  prepare  and  present  to  the  said  Board 


Appendix  F.  207 

at  the  usual  period  the  said  report  and  recognizing  me  as  the 
''Civil  Engineer  of  Virginia,"  I  proceeded  forthwith  to  the 
residence  of  the  deceased  engineer  to  obtain  his  notes.  I 
received  them  from  his  son  Asa.  They  were  in  pencil  writing 
and  in  that  rough  state  in  which  they  were  first  made  at  the 
places  to  which  they  relate. 

"The  last  sickness  of  this  excellent  man  so  suddenly  ar- 
rested his  career  of  usefulness,  and  from  its  first  occurrence 
so  entirely  incapacitated  him  for  any  kind  of  business  that 
it  was  not  possible  for  him  (as  had  been  his  custom)  to  review 
his  notes,  improve  their  arrangement,  supply  abbreviations 
and  casual  omissions,  and  write  them  with  ink. 

"I  had  received  letters  from  mostof  the  joint  commissioners 
for  the  Potomac,  earnestly  requesting  that  I  would  undertake 
to  finish  the  survey  of  the  river  from  the  point  where  it  had 
been  suspended,  to  arrange  the  notes  left  by  the  late  engineer, 
to  make  the  necessary  calculations  and  form  an  estimate  of  the 
probable  cost  of  an  independent  canal  from  Cumberland  to 
tide  water,  and  that  I  would  proceed  to  the  work  without 
delay. 

"Having  found  that  the  survey  of  the  Potomac  could  not 
be  resumed  until  early  in  the  12th  month  I  employed  the 
interval  preceeding  that  time  in  making  the  calculations  and 
arrangements  necessary  for  the  estimate  of  expense  as  far  as 
the  work  had  proceeded.  The  late  engineer  had  from  the 
30th  of  the  7th  to  the  middle  of  the  9th  month  brought  the 
surveying  and  leveling  about  157  miles.  His  own  notes  were 
continued  no  farther  than  to  a  point  about  7  miles  short  of 
the  terminating  of  the  levelling,  or  150  miles  from  Cumber- 
land. 

"In  company  with  Wm.  Naylor,  Moses  T.  Hunter  and 
Athan.  Fenwick,  three  of  the  commissioners  (Asa  Moore  jr. 
being  surveyor  and  leveler),  I  commenced  on  the  11th  and 
terminated  on  the  18th  of  the  12th  month  just  past,  the  survey 
and  examination  of  the  remaining  part  of  the  route  of  the 
contemplated  canal.  I  closed  the  survey  and  examination  at 
the  head  of  Little  Falls  canal.  This  canal  is  about  two  and 
one-half  miles  long.  At  its  outlet  the  descent  is  37  feet  by 
three  locks  to  tide  water  in  the  District  of  Columbia. 


2o8  Appendix  F. 

"From  every  document  I  have  seen,  and  everything  I  have 
heard,  relating  to  the  subject,  it  appears  both  the  late  engi- 
neer and  the  commissioners  have  completely  abandoned  the 
opinion  that  stream  navigation,  whether  by  sluices  or  dams 
and  locks  is  in  any  degree  eligible  on  the  Potowmac  above  tide 
water.  That  opinion  ought  to  be  abandoned  everywhere,  and 
it  will  be  abandoned ;  for,  the  increasing  light  of  science,  shin- 
ing through  the  clear  medium  of  experience  will  convincingly 
show  that,  above  tide  water  stream  navigation  is  eligible 
nowhere. 

"These  gentlemen,  in  designating  the  kind  of  improvement 
most  proper  for  the  Potowmac  have  very  wisely  confined  their 
views  to  an  independent  canal.  The  dimensions  adopted  and 
those  on  which  the  calculations  are  made,  are  the  following; 
the  water  to  be  30  feet  wide  on  the  surface,  20  feet  at  the  bot- 
tom and  3  feet  deep. 

"It  has  been  deemed  expedient  to  divide  into  sections,  the 
proposed  canal,  for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  its  execution. 
The  first  section  extends  from  Cumberland  in  Maryland  to  the 
mouth  of  Capon  in  Virginia,  54^  miles;  the  second  from 
the  mouth  of  Capon  to  the  mouth  of  Great  Conogocheague,  or 
Williamsport  in  Maryland,  33|  miles ;  the  third  section, 
wholly  in  Maryland  side  from  mouth  of  Conogocheague  to 
Harpers  Ferry,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Shenandoah,  385 
miles;  the  fourth  section,  still  on  the  Maryland  side,  from 
Harpers  Ferry  to  the  head  of  Great  Falls,  40:|  miles;  and 
the  fifth  section,  still  on  the  Maryland  side,  from  the  head  of 
Great  Falls  to  tide  water  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  12  miles ; 
The  whole  amount  is  185  miles  of  canal  navigation  from  Cum- 
berland to  tide  water. 

"Between  Cumberland  and  Williamsport  it  is  proposed  in 
order  to  avoid  great  difficulties  and  to  take  advantage  of  the 
best  and  cheapest  ground  that  the  navigation  should  cross 
the  Potowmac  four  times,  the  two  first  crossings  by  means  of 
dams,  and  the  third  and  fourth  by  means  of  aqueducts.  In 
every  case  where  a  dam  is  the  means  of  crossing,  a  guard  lock 


Appendix  F.  209 

is  indispensable  at  the  entrance  of  the  canal,  where  it  proceeds 
again  from  the  river  on  the  opposite  side.  Aqueducts  how- 
ever as  the  mode  of  crossing  rivers  with  a  canal  are  on  account 
of  the  superior  safety  and  convenience  which  they  afford  to 
navigation  decidedly  preferable  to  dams,  although  more  ex- 
pensive in  construction.  Yet  where  we  cannot  avail  ourselves 
of  sufficient  feeders  from  side  streams  to  keep  always  a  full 
and  certain  supply  of  water  in  our  upper  levels,  dams  across 
the  main  stream  are  adopted  because  by  them  we  obtain  an 
abundant  supply  without  an  additional  cut  for  a  feeder. 
This  is  precisely  the  case  in  the  first  crossing  and  in  the  second 
we  have  not  a  sufficient  elevation  for  an  aqueduct,  to  be  safe 
from  the  effects  of  freshets. 

' '  The  estimates  of  the  probable  cost  necessary  for  construct- 
ing an  independent  canal  along  the  valley  of  the  Potowmac 
river  from  Cumberland  to  tide  water — 185  miles. ' ' 

''Total  with  contingencies  $2,000,000 

"A  sum  which  will  be  quite  as  small  as  is  generally  ex- 
pended and  affording  $400,000  for  a  compromise  with  the 
Potowmac  Company,  sufficient  it  is  believed  to  induce  it  to 
surrender  its  charter  without  a  judiciary  struggle  which  (to 
say  the  least  of  it)  would  probably  for  several  years  prevent 
every  step  toward  the  accomplishment  of  a  plan  to  which 
thousands,  beside  Virginia  and  Maryland,  are  looking  with 
ardent  hope,  and  sufficient  to  remove  every  obstacle  to  a  sub- 
scription of  the  whole  stock  of  that  Company  to  such  new- 
fund  as  may  be  authorized  by  law.  .  .  . 

"Richmond,  1st  Month  23d.     1823." 


15 


Appendix  G. 

Acts  of  the  Legislatures  of  Virgixia,  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania  and  of  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  in  Eelation  to  the  Chesapeake  and 
Ohio  Canal  Company  ;  also  the  Acts  and 
Eesolutions  of  the  States  of  Vir- 
ginia AND  Maryland  Concerning 
THE  Potomac  Company. 

Washington,  Printed  by  Gales  and  Seaton,  1828. 

"An  Act  for  Opening  and  Extending  the  Navigation  of 
the  potowmack  river. 

"I.  Whereas  the  extension  of  the  navigation  of  Potowmack 
River,  from  tide  Avater  to  the  highest  place  practicable  on  the 
North  branch,  will  be  of  great  public  utility,  and  many  per- 
sons are  willing  to  subscribe  large  sums  of  money  to  effect  so 
laudable  and  beneficial  a  work ;  and  it  is  just  and  proper  that 
they,  their  heirs,  and  assigns,  should  be  empowered  to  receive 
reasonable  tolls  forever,  in  satisfaction  for  the  money  advanced 
by  them  in  carrying  the  work  into  execution,  and  the  risk  they 
run ;  And  whereas  it  may  be  necessary  to  cut  canals  and  erect 
locks  and  other  works  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  and  the  legis- 
latures of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  impressed  with  the  impor- 
tance of  the  object,  are  desirous  of  encouraging  so  useful  an 
undertaking ;  Therefore, 

"II.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia, 
That  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  to  open  books  in  the  city  of 
Richmond,  towns  of  Alexandria  and  Winchester  in  this  state, 
for  receiving  and  entering  subscriptions  for  the  said  under- 
taking, under  the  managementof  Jaquelin  Ambler  and  John 
Beckley  at  the  city  of  Richmond,  of  John  Fitzgerald  and 
William  Hartshorne  at  the  town  of  Alexandria,  and  of  Joseph 
Holmes  and  Edward  Smith  at  the -town  of  Winchester,  and 
under  the  management  of  such  persons  and  at  such  places  in 
Maryland  as  have  been  appointed  by  the  state  of  Maryland, 


Appendix  G.  211 

which  subscriptions  shall  be  made  personally  or  by  power  of 
attorney,  and  shall  be  paid  in  Spanish  milled  dollars,  but  may 
be  paid  in  foreign  silver  or  gold  coin  of  the  value ;  that  the 
said  books  shall  be  opened  for  receiving  subscriptions  on  the 
eighth  day  of  February  next,  and  continue  open  for  this  pur- 
pose until  the  tenth  day  of  j\Iay  next,  inclusive;  and  on  the 
seventeenth  day  of  the  said  month  of  IMay,  there  shall  be  a 
general  meeting  of  the  subscribers  at  the  town  of  Alexandria, 
of  which  meeting  notice  shall  be  given  by  the  said  managers, 
or  any  four  of  them,  in  the  Virginia  and  Maryland  Gazettes, 
at  least  one  month  next  before  the  said  meeting;  and  such 
meeting  shall  and  may  be  continued  from  day  to  day  until  the 
business  is  finished;  and  the  acting  managers  at  the  time  and 
place  hereinafter  mentioned,  shall  lay  before  such  of  the  sub- 
scribers as  shall  meet  according  to  said  notice,  the  books  by 
them  respectively  kept,  containing  *the  state  of  the  said  sub- 
scriptions ;  and  if  one  half  of  the  capital  sum  hereinafter  men- 
tioned, should,  upon  examination,  appear  not  to  have  been 
subscribed,  then  the  said  managers  at  the  said  meeting,  are 
empowered  to  take  and  receive  subscriptions  to  make  up  the 
deficiency ;  and  a  just  and  true  list  of  all  the  subscribers,  with 
the  sums  subscribed  by  each,  shall  be  made  out  and  returned 
by  the  said  managers,  or  any  four  or  more  of  them,  under 
their  hands,  into  the  general  court  of  each  state,  to  be  there 
recorded ;  and  in  case  more  than  two  hundred  and  twenty-two 
thousand  and  two  hundred  and  twenty-two  hundred  and 
twenty-two  dollars  and  two-ninths  of  a  dollar,  shall  be  sub- 
scribed, then  the  same  shall  be  reduced  to  that  sum  by  the 
said  managers,  or  a  majority  of  them,  by  beginning  at  and 
striking  off  a  share  from  the  largest  subscription  or  subscrip- 
tions, and  continuing  to  strike  off  a  share  from  all  subscrip- 
tions under  the  largest,  and  above  one  share  until  the  sum  is 
reduced  to  the  capital  two  hundred  and  twenty-two  thousand 
two  hundred  and  twenty-two  dollars  and  two  ninths  of  a  dol- 
lar, or  until  a  share  is  taken  from  all  subscriptions  above  one 
share,  and  lots  shall  be  drawn  between  the  subscribers  of 
equal  sums,  to  determine  the  numbers  in  which  such  sub- 
scribers shall  stand,  on  a  list  to  be  made  for  striking  off  as 


212  Appendix  G. 

aforesaid;  and  if  the  sum  subscribed  still  exceeds  the  capital 
aforesaid,  or  all  the  subscriptions  are  reduced  to  one  share: 
and  if  there  still  be  an  excess,  then  lots  to  be  drawn  to  deter- 
mine the  subscribers  who  are  to  be  excluded,  to  reduce  the 
subscriptions  to  the  capital  aforesaid,  which  striking  off  shall 
be  certified  in  the  list  aforesaid,  and  the  said  capital  sum  shall 
be  reckoned  and  divided  into  five  hundred  shares  of  four  hun- 
dred and  forty- four  dollars  and  four-ninths  of  a  dollar  each, 
of  which  every  person  subscribing  may  take  and  subscribe  for 
one  or  more  whole  shares,  and  not  otherwise.  Provided,  That 
unless  one  half  of  the  said  capital  shall  be  subscribed  as  afore- 
said, all  subscriptions  made  in  consequence  of  this  act,  shall 
be  void,  and  in  case  one  half  and  less  than  the  whole  of  the 
said  capital  shall  be  subscribed  as  aforesaid,  then  the  presi- 
dent and  directors  are  hereby  empowered  and  directed  to 
take  and  receive  the  subscriptions  which  shall  first  be  offered 
in  whole  shares  as  aforesaid,  until  the  deficiency  shall  be  made 
up,  a  certificate  of  which  additional  subscriptions  shall  be 
made  under  the  hands  of  the  president  and  directors,  or  a 
majority  of  them  for  the  time  being,  and  returned  to  and 
recorded  in  the  general  courts,  aforesaid. 

"III.  And  be  it  enacted.  That  in  case  one  half  of  the  said 
capital,  or  a  greater  sum,  shall  be  subscribed  as  aforesaid,  the 
said  subscribers,  and  their  heirs  and  assigns,  from  the  time  of 
the  said  first  meeting,  shall  be,  and  are  hereby  declared  to  be 
incorporated  into  a  company,  by  the  name  of  the  "Potow- 
mack  Company, ' '  and  may  sue  and  be  sued  as  such ;  and  such 
of  the  said  subscribers  as  shall  be  present  at  the  said  meeting, 
or  a  majority  of  them,  are  hereby  empowered  and  required  to 
elect  a  president  and  four  directors,  for  conducting  the  said 
undertaking,  and  managing  all  the  said  company's  business 
and  concerns,  for  and  during  such  time,  not  exceeding  three 
years,  as  the  said  subscribers,  or  a  majority  of  them,  shall 
think  fit.  And  in  counting  the  votes  of  all  general  meetings 
of  the  said  company,  each  member  shall  be  allowed  one  vote 
for  every  share,  as  far  as  ten  share.s,  and  one  vote  for  every 
five  shares  above  ten,  by  him  or  her  held  at  the  time  in  the 
said  company;  and  any  proprietor,  by  writing  under  his  or 


Appendix  G.  213 

her  hand,  executed  before  two  witnesses,  may  depute  any  other 
member  or  proprietor  to  vote  and  act  as  proxy  for  him  or  her, 
at  any  general  meeting. 

"IV.  And  be  it  enacted.  That  the  said  president  and 
directors  so  elected,  and  their  successors,  or  a  majority  of 
them  assembled,  shall  have  full  power  and  authority  to 
agree  with  any  person  or  persons  on  behalf  of  said  com- 
pany, to  cut  such  canals  and  erect  such  locks,  and  per- 
form such  other  works  as  they  shall  judge  necessary  for 
opening,  improving,  and  extending  the  navigation  of  the 
said  river  above  tidewater,  to  the  highest  part  of  the  North 
Branch  to  which  navigation  can  be  extended,  and  carry- 
ing on  the  same,  from  place  to  place,  and  from  time  to  time, 
and  upon  such  terms  and  in  such  manner  as  they  shall  think 
fit;  and  out  of  the  money  arising  from  the  subscriptions  and 
the  tolls,  and  such  other  aids  hereinafter  given,  to  pay  for 
the  same,  and  to  repair  and  keep  in  order  the  said  locks  and 
other  works  necessary  therein,  and  to  defray  all  incidental 
charges ;  and  also  to  appoint  a  treasurer,  clerk,  and  such  other 
officers,  toll-gatherers,  managers,  and  servants  as  they  shall 
judge  requisite,  and  to  agree  for  and  to  settle  their  respective 
wages  or  allowances,  and  settle,  pass,  and  sign  their  accounts, 
and  also  to  make  and  establish  rules  of  proceeding,  and  to 
transact  all  the  other  business  and  concerns  of  the  said  com- 
pany, in  and  during  the  intervals  between  the  general  meet- 
ings of  the  same ;  and  they  shall  be  allowed  as  a  satisfaction 
for  their  trouble  therein,  such  sum  of  money  as  shall,  by  a 
general  meeting  of  the  subscribers,  be  determined.  Provided,, 
always,  that  the  treasurer  shall  give  bond  in  such  penalty  and 
with  such  security  as  the  said  President  and  Directors,  or  a 
majority  of  them,  shall  direct,  for  the  true  and  faithful  dis- 
charge of  the  trust  reposed  in  him,  and  that  the  allowance 
be  made  to  him  for  his  services  shall  not  exceed  three  pounds 
in  the  hundred,  for  the  disbursements  by  him  made ;  and  that 
no  officer  in  the  said  company  shall  have  any  vote  in  the  settle- 
ment or  passing  of  his  own  account. 

"V.  And  be  it  enacted.  That  the  said  President  and  Direc- 
tors and  their  successors,  or  a  majority  of  them,  shall  have 


214  Appendix  G. 

full  power  and  authority,  from  time  to  time,  as  money  shall 
be  wanted,  to  make  and  sign  orders  for  that  purpose,  and 
direct  at  what  time,  and  in  what  proportion,  the  proprietors 
shall  advance  and  pay  off  the  sums  subscribed,  which  orders 
shal  be  advertised  at  least  one  month  in  the  Virginia  and 
Maryland  Gazettes ;  and  they  are  hereby  authorized  and  em- 
powered to  demand  and  receive  of  the  several  proprietors, 
from  time  to  time,  the  sums  of  money  so  ordered  to  be  ad- 
vanoed  for  carrying  on  and  executing,  or  repairing  and  keep- 
ing in  order  the  said  works,  until  the  sums  deposited  into  the 
hands  of  the  Treasurer,  to  be  by  him  disbursed  and  paid  out 
as  the  said  President  and  Directors,  or  a  majority  of  them, 
shall  order  and  direct.  And  if  any  of  the  said  proprietors 
shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  pay  their  said  proportions  within 
one  month  after  the  same  so  ordered  and  advertised  as  afore- 
said, the  said  President  and  Directors,  or  a  majority  of  them, 
may  sell  at  auction  and  convey  to  the  purchaser,  the  share  or 
shares  of  such  proprietor  so  refusing  or  neglecting  payment, 
giving  at  least  one  month's  notice  of  sale  in  the  Virginia  and 
Maryland  Gazettes,  and  after  retaining  the  sum  due,  and 
charges  of  sale  out  of  the  money  produced  thereby,  they  shall 
refund  and  pay  the  overplus,  if  any,  to  the  former  owner; 
and  if  such  sale  shall  not  produce  the  full  sum  ordered  and 
directed  to  be  advanced  as  aforesaid,  with  the  incidental 
charges,  the  said  President  and  Directors,  or  a  majority  of 
them,  may  in  the  name  of  the  company,  sue  for  and  recover 
the  balance  by  action  of  debt,  or  on  the  ease ;  and  the  said  pur- 
chaser or  purchasers  shall  be  subject  to  the  same  rules  and 
regulations,  as  if  the  said  sale  and  conveyance  had  been  made 
by  the  original  proprietor,  and  to  continue  the  succession  of 
the  said  President  and  Directors,  and  to  keep  up  the  same 
number. 

"VI.  Be  it  enacted,  That,  from  time  to  time,  upon  the 
expiration  of  the  said  term  for  which  the  said  president  and 
directors  were  appointed,  the  proprietors  of  the  said  com- 
pany, at  the  next  general  meeting,  shall  either  continue 
the  said  president  and  directors,  or  any  of  them,  or  shall 
chose  others  in  their  stead;  and  in  case  of  the  death,  re- 


Appendix  G.  215 

moval,  resignation,  or  incapacity  of  the  president,  or  any 
of  the  said  directors,  may  and  shall,  in  the  manner  afore- 
said, elect  any  other  person  or  persons,  to  be  president 
and  directors,  in  the  room  of  him  or  them  so  dying,  re- 
moving or  resigning;  and  may  at  any  of  their  general  meet- 
ings, remove  the  president,  or  any  of  the  directors,  and 
appoint  others,  for  and  during  the  remainder  of  the  term  for 
which  such  persons  or  persons  were  at  first  to  have  acted. 

"VII.  And  be  it  enacted.  That  every  president  and  di- 
rector, before  he  acts  as  such,  shall  take  an  oath  or  affirma- 
tion, for  the  due  execution  of  his  office. 

"YIII.  And  be  it  enacted,  That  the  presence  of  pro- 
prietors, having  one  hundred  shares  at  least,  shall  be  neces- 
sary to  constitute  a  general  meeting;  and  that  there  shall 
be  a  general  meeting  of  proprietors  on  the  first  Monday 
in  August  in  every  year,  at  such  convenient  town  as  shall, 
from  time  to  time,  be  appointed  by  the  said  general  as- 
sembly; but  if  a  sufficient  number  shall  not  attend  on  that 
day,  the  proprietors  who  do  attend,  may  adjourn  such  meet- 
ing from  day  to  day,  till  a  general  meeting  of  proprietors 
shall  be  had,  which  may  be  continued  from  day  to  day, 
until  the  business  of  the  company  is  finished;  to  which 
meeting  the  president  and  directors  shall  make  report,  and 
render  distinct  and  just  accounts  of  all  their  proceedings,  and 
on  finding  them  fairly  and  justly  stated,  the  proprietors  then 
present,  or  a  majority  of  them,  shall  give  a  certificate  thereof, 
a  duplicate  of  which  shall  be  entered  on  the  said  company's 
books ;  and  at  such  yearly  general  meetings,  after  leaving  in 
the  hands  of  the  treasurer  such  sum  as  the  proprietors,  or  a 
majority  of  them,  shall  judge  necessary  for  repairs  and  con- 
tingent charges,  an  equal  dividend  of  all  the  net  profits,  aris- 
ing from  the  tolls  hereby  granted,  shall  be  ordered,  and  made 
to  and  among  all  the  proprietors  of  the  said  company,  in  pro- 
portion to  their  several  shares;  and  upon  any  emergency  in 
the  interval  between  the  said  yearly  meetings,  the  said  presi- 
dent, or  a  majority  of  the  said  directors,  may  appoint  a  gen- 
eral meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  the  said  company,  at  any 
convenient  town,  giving  at  least  one  month's  previous  notice 


2i6  Appendix  G. 

in  the  Maryland  and  Virginia  Gazettes,  which  meeting  may 
be  adjourned  and  continued  as  aforesaid. 

"IX.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  for  and  in  con- 
sideration of  the  expenses  the  said  proprietors  will  be  at, 
not  only  in  cutting  the  said  canals,  erecting  locks  and  other 
works,  for  opening  the  different  falls  of  the  said  river,  and 
improving  and  extending  the  navigation  thereof,  but  in 
maintaining  and  keeping  the  same  in  repair,  the  said  canal 
and  works,  with  all  their  profits,  shall  be,  and  the  same 
are  hereby  vested  in  the  said  proprietors,  their  heirs  and 
assigns,  forever,  as  tenants  in  common,  in  proportion 
to  their  respective  shares;  and  the  same  shall  be  deemed 
real  estate,  and  be  forever  exempt  from  payment  of  any  tax, 
imposition,  or  assessment  whatsoever ;  and  it  shall  and  may  be 
lawful  for  the  said  president  and  directors  at  all  times,  for- 
ever hereafter,  to  demand  and  receive,  at  the  nearest  conve- 
nient place  below  the  mouth  of  the  South  Branch,  and  at  or 
near  Payne's  Falls,  and  at  or  above  the  Great  Falls  of  the 
river  Potomac,  and  every  of  these  places  separately,  for  all 
commodities,  transported  through  either  of  them  respectively, 
tolls,  according  to  the  following  table  and  rates,  to  wit : — 


Appendix  G. 


217 


Tolls. 

At  the       I 
Mouth  of  the    At  Payne's 
South  Falls. 

Branch. 


At  the  Great 
Falls. 


Sterling. 


Every  pipe  or  hogshead  of  wine,  containing 
more  than  65  gallons 

Every  hogshead   of  rum   or  other  spirits 

Every  hogshead  of  tobacco 

Every  cask  between  65  and  35  gallons,  one 
half  of  a  pipe  or  hogshead,  barrels  one- 
fourth  part,  and  smaller  casks  or  kegs  in 
proportion,  according  to  the  quality  and 
quantity  of  their  contents  of  wine  or 
spirits. 

For  casks  of  linseed  oil  the  same  as  spirits 

Every  bushel  of  wheat,  peas,  beans,  or 
flaxseed, 

Every  bushel  of  Indian  corn,  or  other  grain, 
or  salt 

Every  barrel  of  pork 

Every  barrel  of  beef 

Every  barrel  of  flour 

Every  ton  of  hemp,  flax,  potash,  bar  or 
manufactured  iron 

Every  ton  of  pig-iron,  or  castings 

Every  ton  of  copper,  lead,  or  other  ore, 
other  than  iron  ore 

Every  ton  of  stone,  or  iron  ore 

Every  hundred  bushels  of  lime 

Every  chaldron  of  coals 

Every  hundred  pipe  staves 

Every  hundred  hogshead  staves  or  pipe  or 
hogshead  heading 

Every  hundred  barrel  staves,  or  barrel 
heading 

Every  hundred  cubic  feet  of  plank,  or 
scantling 

Every  hundred  cubic  feet  of  other  timber. 

Every  gross  hundred  weight  of  all  other 
commodities  and  packages, 

And  every  empty  boat  or  vessel,  which  has 
not  commodities  on  board,  to  yield  so 
much,  except  an  empty  boat  or  vessel 
returning,  whose  load  has  already  paid, 
at  the  respective  places,  the  sums  fixed 
at  each,  in  which  case  she  is  to  repass 
toll  free 


1  6 
1  3 
1     0 


0     0     Oi 


0    oi 

0  6 
0  4 
0     3 

2  6 
0  10 


0     1| 

0     1 

0  10 
0     5h 


0     0     U 


0     2     6 


£.  s.     d. 

0  16 

0  13 

0  10 


0     0     Oi 


0  0  Oi 

0  0  6 

0  0  4 

0  0  3 


0     2     6 
0     0  10 


0  2 
0  0 
0     1 


0 
5 
3 

0     0     5 
0     0     2i 

0     0     Ij 

0     0     1 

0     0  10 
0     0     5| 

0     0     U 


0    2    26 


£.  s.  d. 

0  3  0 

0  2  6 

0  2  0 


0  0     1 

0  0     0^ 

0  10 

0  0     8 

0  0     6 

0  5     0 

0  18 

0  4     0 

0  0  10 

0  2     6 

0  0  10 

0  0     4| 

0  0     8 

0  0     2 

0  18 

0  0  11 

0  0     3 


0     5     0 


Which  tolls  are  rated  in  sterling  money,  and  may  be  dis- 
charged in  foreign  gold  or  silver  coin  of  the  present  fineness, 
at  the  following  rates,  to  wit: 


0 

5 

If 

0 

5 

9 

0 

.  5 

0 

3 

12 

0 

1 

16 

0 

1 

7 

0 

1 

1 

0 

1 

0 

10 

3 

6 

0 

0 

16 

6 

0 

16 

4 

0 

8 

6 

0 

4 

0 

2i8  Appendix  G. 

Spanish  milled  piece  of  eight,  or  dollar,  £0     4     6 

Other  coined  silver,  of  equal  fineness,  per  ounce, 

English  milled   cro^\'ns, 

French  silver  crowns, 

Johannes  weighing  18   pennyweight. 

Half  Johannes  weighing  9  pennyweight, 

Moidores  weighing  6  pennyweight  18  grains, 

English  guineas  weighing  5  pennyweights  5  grains, 

French  guineas  weighing  5   pennyweights  5  grains, 

Doubloons   weighing   17   pennyweights, 

Spanish  pistoles  weighing  4  pennyweighs  6  grains, 

French  milled  pistoles  weighing  4  pennyweights  4  grains, 

Arabian  chequins  weighing  2  pennyweights  3  grains, 

Other  gold  coin   (German  excepted)   by  the  pennyweight. 

But  if  any  of  the  coins  aforesaid,  should  hereafter  be  ren- 
dered less  valuable  than  they  are  at  present,  either  by  lessen- 
ing their  weight,  or  therewith  adding  a  greater  quantity  of 
alloy  than  is  in  them  respectively  at  present,  then  so  much  of 
any  of  said  coins,  the  value  of  which  is  so  reduced,  to  be  re- 
ceived for  the  tolls  aforesaid,  as  is  equal  in  value  to  the  said 
coins  in  their  present  state  of  fineness  and  weight,  shall  be 
payable  for  the  said  tolls  at  their  reduced  value  only.  And 
in  case  of  refusal  or  neglect  to  pay  the  tolls  at  the  time  of 
offering  to  pass  through  any  of  the  said  places,  and  previous 
to  the  vessel's  passing  through  the  same,  the  collectors  of  the 
said  tolls  may  lawfully  refuse  passage  to  such  vessels;  and  if 
any  vessel  shall  pass  without  paying  the  said  toll,  then  the 
said  collectors  may  seize  such  vessel,  whereever  found,  and 
sell  the  same  at  auction  for  ready  money,  which,  so  far  as  is 
necessary,  shall  be  applied  toward  paying  the  said  toll,  and 
all  expenses  of  seizure  and  sale,  and  the  balance,  if  any,  shall 
be  paid  to  the  owner,  and  the  person  having  the  direction  of 
such  vessel  shall  be  liable  for  such  toll,  if  the  same  is  not  paid 
by  sale  of  such  vessel,  as  aforesaid;  Provided,  That  the  said 
proprietors,  or  a  majority  of  them,  holding,  at  least,  three 
hundred  shares,  shall  have  full  power  and  authority,  at  any 
general  meeting,  to  lessen  the  said  tolls  or  any  of  them ;  or  to 
determine  that  any  article  may  pass  free  of  toll, 

' '  10.  And  be  it  enacted,  That  the  said  river,  and  the  works 


b 


Appendix  G.  219 

to  be  erected  thereon  in  virtue  of  this  act,  when  completed, 
shall  forever  thereafter  be  esteemed  and  taken  to  be  navigable 
as  a  public  highway,  free  for  the  transportation  of  all  goods, 
commodities,  or  produce,  whatsoever,  on  payment  of  the  tolls 
imposed  by  this  act;  and  no  other  toll  or  tax  whatever,  for 
the  use  of  the  water  of  said  river,  and  the  works  thereon 
erected,  shall,  at  any  time  hereafter,  be  imposed,  by  both  or 
either  of  the  said  States,  subject,  nevertheless,  to  such  regula- 
tions as  the  Legislatures  of  the  States  may  concur  in,  to  pre- 
vent the  importation  of  prohibited  goods,  or  to  prevent  fraud 
in  evading  the  payment  of  duties  imposed  in  both  or  either 
of  the  said  States,  on  goods  imported  into  either  of  them. 
And  whereas  it  is  necessary  for  making  the  said  canal,  locks, 
and  other  works,  that  a  provision  should  be  made  for  con- 
demning a  quantity  of  land  for  the  purpose — 

"11.  Be  it  enacted.  That  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the 
said  president  and  directors,  or  a  majority  of  them,  to  agree 
with  the  owners  of  any  land,  through  which  the  said  canal  is 
intended  to  pass,  for  the  purchase  thereof,  and  in  case  of  a 
disagreement,  or  in  case  the  owner  thereof  shall  be  a  feme- 
covert,  under  age,  non  compos,  or  out  of  the  State,  on  appli- 
cation to  any  two  justices  of  the  county,  in  which  such  land 
may  lie,  the  said  justices  shall  issue  their  warrant  under  their 
hands,  to  the  sheriff  of  their  county,  to  summons  a  jury  of 
twenty-four  inhabitants  of  his  county,  of  property  and  repu- 
tation, not  related  to  the  parties,  nor  in  any  manner  inter- 
ested, to  meet  on  the  land  to  be  valued,  at  a  day  to  be  ex- 
pressed in  the  w^arrant,  nor  less  than  ten,  nor  more  than 
twenty  days  thereafter;  and  the  sheriff  upon  receiving  the 
said  warrant,  shall  forthwith  summon  the  said  jury,  and  when 
met,  provided  that  not  less  than  twelve  do  appear,  shall  ad- 
minister an  oath  or  affirmation  to  every  juryman  that  shall 
appear;  'that  he  will  faithfully,  justly,  and  impartially  value 
the  land,  (not  exceeding  in  any  case  the  width  of  one  hundred 
and  forty  feet)  and  all  damages  the  owner  thereof  shall  sus- 
tain by  the  cutting  the  canal  through  such  land,  according 
to  the  best  of  his  skill  and  judgment ;  and  that  in  such  valua- 
tion, he  will  not  spare  any  person  through  favor  or  affection, 


2  20  Appendix  G. 

nor  any  persons  grieve  through  malice,  hatred,  or  ill-will.' 
And  the  inquisition  thereupon  taken,  shall  be  signed  by  the 
sheriff,  and  some  twelve  or  more  of  the  jury,  and  returned  by 
the  sheriff  to  the  clerk  of  his  county,  to  be  by  him  recorded; 

"And  upon  every  such  valuation,  the  jury  is  hereby  di- 
rected to  describe  and  ascertain  the  bounds  of  the  land  by 
them  valued,  and  their  valuation  shall  be  conclusive  on  all 
persons,  and  shall  be  paid  by  the  said  president  and  directors 
to  the  owner  of  the  land,  or  his  legal  representative ;  and  on 
payment  thereof,  the  said  company  shall  be  seized  in  fee  of 
such  land,  as  if  conveyed  by  the  owner  to  them,  and  their  suc- 
cessors, by  legal  conveyance;  Provided,  nevertheless,  That  if 
any  further  damage  shall  arise  to  any  proprietor  of  land,  in 
consequence  of  opening  said  canal,  or  in  erecting  such  works, 
than  had  been  before  considered  and  valued,  it  shall  and  may 
be  lawful  for  such  proprietor,  as  often  as  any  new  damage 
shall  happen,  by  application  to,  and  a  warrant  from,  any  two 
justices  of  the  county  where  the  lands  lie,  to  have  such  further 
damage  valued  by  a  jury  in  like  manner,  and  to  receive  and 
recover  the  same  of  the  president  and  directors;  but  nothing 
herein  shall  be  taken  or  construed  to  entitle  the  proprietor  of 
any  such  land  to  recover  compensation  for  any  damages  which 
may  happen  to  any  mills,  forges,  or  other  w^ater  works  or  im- 
provements, which  shall  be  begun  or  erected  by  such  pro- 
prietor, after  such  first  valuation,  unless  the  said  damage  is 
wilfully  or  maliciously  done  by  the  said  president  and  direc- 
tors, or  some  person  by  their  authority. 

"12.  And  be  it  enacted.  That  the  said  president  and  direc- 
tors, or  a  majority  of  them,  are  hereby  authorized  to  agree 
with  the  proprietors  for  the  purchase  of  a  quantity  of  land, 
not  exceeding  one  acre,  at  or  near  each  of  the  said  places  of 
receipt  of  tolls  aforesaid,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  neces- 
sary buildings;  and  in  case  of  disagreement,  or  any  of  the 
disabilities  aforesaid,  or  the  proprietor  being  out  of  the  State, 
then  such  land  may  be  valued,  condemned,  and  paid  for,  as 
aforesaid,  for  the  purpose  aforesaid:  And  whereas  some  of 
the  places  through  which  it  may  be  necessary  to  conduct  the 
said  canals  may  be  convenient  for  erecting  mills,  forges,  and 


Appendix  G.  221 

other  waterworks,  and  the  persons,  possessors  of  such  situation 
may  design  to  improve  the  same,  and  it  is  the  intention  of  this 
act  not  to  interfere  with  private  property,  but  for  the  purpose 
of  improving  and  perfecting  the  said  navigation — 

"13.  Be  it  enacted,  That  the  water,  or  any  part  thereof, 
conveyed  through  any  canal  or  cut  made  by  the  said  com- 
pany, shall  not  be  used  for  any  purpose  but  navigation  unless 
the  consent  of  the  proprietors  of  the  land  through  which  the 
same  shall  be  led,  be  first  had;  and  the  said  president  and 
directors,  or  a  majority  of  them,  are  hereby  empowered  and 
directed,  if  it  can  be  conveniently  done,  to  answer  both  the 
purposes  of  navigation  and  water  works  aforesaid,  to  enter 
into  reasonable  agreement  with  the  proprietors  of  such  situa- 
tions, concerning  the  just  proportion  of  the  expenses  of  making 
large  canals  or  cuts  capable  of  carrying  such  quantities  of 
water  as  may  be  sufficient  for  the  purposes  of  navigation,  and 
also  for  any  such  water  works  as  aforesaid, 

"14.  And  be  it  enacted.  That  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful 
for  every  of  the  said  proprietors  to  transfer  his  share  or 
shares,  by  deed,  executed  before  two  witnesses,  and  registered 
after  proof  of  the  execution  thereof,  in  the  said  company's 
books,  and  not  otherwise,  except  by  devise,  which  devise  shall 
also  be  exhibited  to  the  president  and  directors,  and  regis- 
tered in  the  company's  books,  before  the  devisee  or  devisees 
shall  be  entitled  to  draw  any  part  of  the  profits  from  the  said 
tolls :  Provided,  That  no  transfer  whatsoever  shall  be  made, 
except  for  one  or  more  whole  shares,  and  not  for  part  of  such 
shares,  and  that  no  share  shall  at  any  time  be  sold,  conveyed, 
transferred,  or  held  in  trust,  for  the  use  and  benefit,  or  in  the 
name  of  another,  whereby  the  said  president  and  directors  or 
proprietors  of  the  said  company,  or  any  of  them,  shall  or  may 
be  challenged  or  made  to  answer,  concerning  any  such  trust, 
but  that  every  such  person  appearing  as  aforesaid,  to  be  pro- 
prietor, shall,  as  to  the  others  of  the  said  company  be  to  every 
intent  taken  absolutely  as  such ;  but  as  between  any  trustee  and 
the  person  for  whose  benefit  any  trust  shall  be  created,  the 
common  remedy  may  be  pursued.  And  whereas  it  hath  been 
represented  to  this  General  Assembly,  that  sundry  persons  are 


2  22  Appendix  G. 

willing  and  desirous,  on  account  of  the  great  public  advan- 
tages and  improvement  their  estates  may  receive  thereby  to 
promote  and  contribute  towards  so  useful  an  undertaking, 
and  to  subscribe  sums  of  money  to  be  paid  on  condition  the 
said  works  are  really  completed  and  carried  into  execution, 
but  do  not  care  to  run  any  risk,  or  desire  to  have  any  prop- 
erty therein — 

"15.  Be  it  therefore  enacted,  That  the  said  president  and 
directors  shall  be,  and  are  hereby  empowered  to  receive  and 
take  in  subscriptions,  upon  the  said  conditions,  and  upon  the 
said  works  being  completed  and  carried  into  execution,  accord- 
ing to  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  this  act,  that  it  shall 
and  may  be  lawful  for  the  said  president  and  directors  or  a 
majority  of  them,  in  case  of  refusal  or  neglect  of  payment, 
in  the  name  of  the  company  as  aforesaid,  to  sue  for  and 
recover  of  the  said  subscribers,  their  heirs,  executors  or  admin- 
istrators, the  sums  by  them  respectively  subscribed,  by  action 
of  debt,  or  upon  the  case,  in  any  court  of  record  within  this 
State. 

"16.  And  be  it  enacted.  That,  if  the  said  capital,  and  other 
aids  already  granted  by  this  act,  shall  prove  insufficient,  it 
shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the  said  company,  from  time  to 
time,  to  increase  the  said  capital  by  the  addition  of  so  many 
more  whole  shares,  as  shall  be  judged  neces.sary  by  the  said 
proprietors,  or  a  majority  of  them,  holding  at  least  three 
hundred  shares,  present  at  any  general  meeting  of  the  said 
company.  And  the  said  president  and  directors,  or  a  major- 
ity of  them,  are  hereby  empowered,  and  required,  after  giving 
at  least  one  month's  notice  thereof  in  the  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia Gazettes,  to  open  books  in  the  aforementioned  places, 
for  receiving  and  entering  such  additional  subscriptions,  in 
which  the  proprietors  of  the  said  company  for  the  time  being, 
shall,  and  are  hereby  declared  to  have  the  preference  of  all 
others  for  the  first  thirty  days  after  the  said  books  shall  be 
opened  as  aforesaid,  of  taking  and  subscribing  for  so  many 
whole  shares  as  any  of  them  shall  choose.  And  the  said 
president  and  directors  are  hereby  required  to  observe  in  all 
other  respects  the  same  rules  therein,  as  are  by  this  act  pre- 


Appendix  G.  223 

scribed,  for  receiving  and  adjusting  the  first  subscriptions, 
and  in  like  manner  to  return,  under  the  hands  of  any  three 
or  more  of  them,  an  exact  list  of  such  additional  subscribers, 
with  the  sums  by  them  respectively  subscribed,  into  the  gen- 
eral courts  aforesaid,  to  be  there  recorded,  and  all  proprietors 
of  such  additional  sums,  shall,  and  hereby  are  declared  to  be, 
from  thenceforward,  incorporated  into  the  said  company. 

"17.  And  it  is  hereby  declared  and  enacted,  That  the  tolls 
herein  before  allowed  to  be  demanded  and  received  at  the 
nearest  convenient  place  below  the  mouth  of  the  South 
Branch,  are  granted,  and  shall  be  paid,  on  condition  only. 
That  the  said  Potomac  Company  shall  make  the  river  well 
capable  of  being  navigated  in  dry  seasons,  by  vessels  drawing 
one  foot  of  water  from  the  place  on  the  North  Branch,  at 
which  a  road  shall  set  off  to  the  Cheat  river,  agreeably  to  the 
determination  of  the  Assemblies  of  Virginia  and  ]\Iaryland, 
to  and  through  the  place  which  may  be  fixed  on,  below  the 
mouth  of  the  South  Branch,  for  receipt  of  the  tolls  afore- 
said; but  if  the  said  river  is  only  made  navigable  as  afore- 
said, from  Fort  Cumberland,  to  and  through  the  said  place 
below  the  mouth  of  the  South  Branch,  then  only  two  thirds 
of  the  said  tolls  shall  be  there  received.  That  the  tolls  herein 
before  allowed,  to  be  demanded  and  received  at  or  near 
Payne's  Falls,  are  granted  and  shall  be  payable  on  condition 
only,  that  the  said  Potomac  Company  shall  make  the  river 
well  capable  of  being  navigated  in  dry  seasons,  by  vessels 
drawing  one  foot  water,  from  the  said  place  of  collection, 
near  the  mouth  of  South  Branch  to  and  through  Payne's 
Falls  as  aforesaid.  That  the  tolls  herein  before  allowed  to  be 
demanded  and  received  at  the  Great  Falls,  are  granted  and 
shall  be  payable  on  condition  only,  that  the  said  Potomac  Com- 
pany shall  make  the  river  well  capable  of  being  navigated  in 
dry  seasons,  from  Payne's  Falls  to  the  Great  Falls,  by  vessels 
drawing  one  foot  water,  and  from  the  Great  Falls  to  tide 
water,  and  shall,  at  or  near  the  Great  Falls,  make  a  cut  or 
canal,  twenty-five  feet  wide,  and  four  feet  deep,  with  suffi- 
cient locks,  if  necessary,  each  of  eighty  feet  in  length,  sixteen 
feet  in  breadth,  and  capable  of  conveying  vessels  or  rafts 


224  Appendix  G. 

drawing  four  feet  water  at  the  least,  and  shall  make,  at  or 
near  the  Little  Falls,  such  canal  and  locks,  if  necessary,  as 
will  be  sufficient  and  proper  to  let  vessels  and  rafts  afore- 
said, into  tide  water,  or  render  the  said  river  navigable  in 
the  natural  course. 

"18.  And  it  is  hereby  provided  and  enacted,  That  in  case 
the  said  company  shall  not  begin  the  said  work  within  one 
year  after  the  company  shall  be  formed,  or  if  the  navigation 
shall  not  be  made  and  improved  between  the  Great  Falls  and 
Fort  Cumberland,  in  the  manner  hereinbefore  mentioned, 
within  three  years  after  the  said  company  shall  be  formed, 
that  then  the  said  company  shall  not  be  entitled  to  any  bene- 
fit, privilege,  or  advantage,  under  this  act :  And  in  case  the 
said  company  shall  not  complete  the  navigation  through  and 
from  the  Great  Falls  to  tide  water  as  aforesaid,  within  ten 
years  after  the  said  company  shall  be  formed,  then  shall  all 
interest  of  the  said  company  and  all  preference  in  their  favor, 
as  to  the  navigation  and  tolls,  at,  through,  and  from,  the 
Great  Falls  to  tide  water,  be  forfeited,  and  cease. 

"19.  And  be  it  enacted.  That  all  commodities  of  the  pro- 
duce of  either  of  the  said  States,  or  of  the  western  country, 
which  may  be  carried  or  transported  through  the  said  locks, 
canals,  and  rivers,  may  be  landed,  sold,  or  otherwise  disposed 
of,  free  from  any  other  duties,  impositions,  regulations,  or 
restrictions,  of  any  kind,  than  the  like  commodities  of  the 
produce  of  the  State  in  which  the  same  may  happen  to  be 
so  landed,  sold,  shipped,  or  disposed  of. 

"20.  And  be  it  further  enacted.  That  the  Treasurer  of  this 
Commonwealth  shall  be  authorized  and  directed  to  subscribe 
to  the  amount  of  fifty  shares  in  behalf  of  the  same,  and  the 
money  necessary  in  consequence  of  such  subscription,  shall 
be  paid  as  the  same  shall  be  required.  And  the  Treasurer 
for  the  time  being  shall  have  a  right  to  vote  according  to 
such  shares,  in  person,  or  by  proxy,  appointed  by  him,  and 
shall  receive  the  proportion  of  the  tolls  aforesaid,  which  shall 
from  time  to  time  become  due  to  this  State  for  the  shares 
aforesaid. 

"21.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  so  much  of  every  act 


Appendix  G. 


225 


and  acts  within  the  purview  of  this  act,  shall  be,  and  the 
same  is  hereby,  repealed." 

Passed  by  the  Virginia  Assembly  October,  1784. 

Passed  by  the  Maryland  Assembly  in  the  November 
session,  1784. 

In  October,  1784,  the  Virginia  Assembly  passed  an 
act  to  amend  the  above  act,  vesting  in  George  Wash- 
ington, Esq.,  fifty  shares  in  the  Potomac  Company  and 
one  hundred  shares  in  the  James  Eiver  Company. 

Upon  the  General's  declining  to  accept  the  shares 
personally,  but  accepting  them  in  trust  for  educational 
purposes,  the  Assembly  passed  another  amendatory 
act  October,  1785,  whereby, 

"2.  Be  it  enacted,  That  the  (above)  said  recited  act,  so 
far  as  it  vests  in  Geo.  Washington,  Esq,  and  his  heirs,  the 
shares  therein  directed  to  be  subscribed  in  his  name,  shall  be, 
and  the  same  is  hereby,  repealed. 

"3,  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  said  shares,  with 
the  tolls  and  profits  hereafter  accruing  therefrom,  shall  stand 
appropriated  to  such  objects  of  a  public  nature,  in  such  man- 
ner, and  under  such  distributions,  as  the  said  George  Wash- 
ington, Esq.  by  deed  during  his  life,  or  by  his  last  will  and 
testament,  shall  direct  and  appoint." 

In  December,  1787,  the  Virginia  Assembly  passed  an 
act  '^  giving  a  more  speedy  remedy  against  delinquent 
subscribers  to  the  Potomac  and  James  River  Com- 
panies. ' ' 

Concurrent  act  passed  by  the  Maryland  Assembly, 
1787. 

An  amended  act  was  passed  in  Virginia,  December, 
1790,  allowing  three  additional  years  on  the  work  above 
Great  Falls,  requiring  new  subscribers  to  pay  the  past 
calls,  and  that  it  might  be  lawful  for  persons  not  citi- 
zens to  purchase  and  hold  non-subscribed  shares,  pro- 
16 


226  Appendix  G. 

vided  that  the  persons  so  purchasing  shall  not  thereby 
become  citizens.  (This  was  probably  passed  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Amsterdam  investors.) 

Concurrent  act  in  Maryland,  1790. 

An  act  passed  in  Virginia  in  1791  required  the  com- 
pany to  at  once  commence  to  open  navigation  on  tribu- 
tary streams;  also  made  it  lawful  for  non-citizens  to 
purchase  shares  from  stockholders.  To  concur  in 
an  act  of  Maryland. 

In  November,  1793,  the  time  on  the  work  above  Great 
Falls  was  extended  to  January,  1795.  Maryland  ex- 
tended the  time  to  1798. 

In  1793  an  act  was  passed  requiring  boatmen  to  pro- 
cure licenses,  for  which  they  were  to  pay  one  dollar, 
also, 

"Every  boat  intended  to  be  employed  as  aforesaid  shall  be 
well  ceiled  with  strong  plank,  and  sufficiently  high  to  prevent 
the  water  in  the  bottom  from  damaging  any  part  of  the  cargo, 
and  shall  be  furnished  with  a  tarpaulin  cover,  stretched  over 
hoops  in  the  manner  of  wagon  covers,  sufficient  for  defend- 
ing the  weather,  and  also  with  a  hand  pump,  and  shall  have 
a  plank  footway  upon  each  side  of  the  boat,  either  on  the 
outer  or  inside  thereof,  as  the  owner  shall  find  most  convenient, 
and  shall  be  numbered ;  and  no  license  shall  be  granted  in  any 
case  unless  it  shall  be  proven  to  the  Court  that  the  boat  is 
ceiled,  fitted,  furnished  and  numbered,"  etc. 

In  1800  Virginia  decreed  all  fish  dams  and  other  ob- 
structions to  the  navigation  of  the  river  and  its 
branches  to  be  nuisances  and  liable  to  destruction. 

The  Shenandoah  Company  having  failed  to  organize 
under  the  act  of  1798  the  Potomac  Company  was  au- 
thorized to  take  the  work  in  January,  1802. 

In  1803  an  amendatory  act  was  passed,  allowing  five 
years  for  completion  of  the  work  on  the  Shenandoah. 

Another  act  of  Jan\;ary,  1803,  permitted  the  con- 


Appendix  G.  227 

struction  of  the  locks  to  be  twelve  feet  in  width  and 
provided — ■ 

"That  every  lock  which  shall  hereafter  be  repaired  or 
erected,  shall  be  repaired  or  erected  of  stone,  or  such  materials 
as  a  general  meeting  of  the  proprietors  shall  deem  most  con- 
ducive to  the  public  interest  and  convenience.,  .  .  .  also  That, 
by  the  words  '  dry  seasons, '  as  used  in  the  section  referred  to, 
were  and  are  to  be  intended  and  understood,  all  seasons,  so 
far  as  relates  to  the  navigation  of  the  said  river  from  Fort 
Cumberland  to  tide  water." 

Tobias  Lear,  Stevens  Thompson  Mason,  Lawrence 
A.  Washington,  Hugh  Holmes,  Nicholas  Fitzhngli,  Os- 
borne Sprigg  and  Edward  McCarty  were  appointed 
commissioners  to  explore  and  review  the  river  before 
November  and  report  to  the  Assembly  the  manner  in 
which  the  work  is  done,  the  depth  of  water  in  the  shal- 
lowest places  where  the  boats  pass,  etc.  An  extension 
of  three  years  given  in  the  time  for  completion.  The 
company  authorized  to  employ  slaves  from  Maryland. 

In  1811  an  extension  of  three  years  was  granted  on 
the  Shenandoah  navigation. 

In  1817  a  further  extension  of  three  years  was 
granted  the  Potomac  Company  for  completion  of  the 
Potomac  navigation. 

January  8,  1820,  it  was  resolved  by  the  Assembly: 

"That  the  board  of  the  public  works  be  .  .  .  requested  to 
inquire  into  the  expediency  of  directing  their  principal  engi- 
neer to  examine  the  waters  of  the  Potomac,  above  the  upper 
line  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  with  a  view  to  ascertain  and 
report  upon  the  most  effectual  means  of  improving  the  navi- 
gation of  the  same ;  and  to  explore  the  country  between  the 
Potomac  and  the  Ohio,  on  the  one  side,  and  the  Potomac  and 
the  Rappahannock  on  the  other,  with  a  view  to  ascertain  and 
report  upon  the  practicability  of  effecting  a  communication 
by  canals  between  the  three  rivers." 


2  28  Appendix  G. 

In  January,  1821 : 

"Whereas  it  is  represented  to  the  General  Assembly  that 
the  Potomac  Company  have  failed  to  comply  with  the  terms 
and  conditions  of  the  acts  of  the  Legislatures  of  the  States  of 
Virginia  and  Maryland,  incorporating  the  said  Company,  for 
the  purpose  of  opening  and  extending  the  navigation  of  the 
river  Potomac  and  its  branches ;  and  whereas  it  is  the  interest 
of  this  commonwealth  that  such  measures  should  be  con- 
jointly adopted  by  the  Legislatures  of  the  said  States  as 
shall  insure  to  the  people  thereof  the  attainment  of  the  im- 
portant objects  for  which  the  charter  of  the  said  Company 
was  granted: 

"...  The  Governor  of  this  State  .  .  .  shall  appoint  two 
commissioners  to  meet  such  commissioners  as  may  be  appointed 
by  the  Governor  of  Maryland,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
examine  into  and  report  the  state  of  the  navigation  of  the 
said  river  and  its  branches,  and  whether  the  same  has  been 
perfected  and  completed  according  to  the  terms  and  condi- 
tions of  the  acts  of  incorporation,  etc.  They  are  further 
directed  to  inquire  into  and  report  the  situation  and  condition 
of  the  affairs  of  the  said  Company,  Etc.  Etc."  Concurrent  act 
of  Maryland,  Dec.  1820. 

In  Marj^land  Assembly,  November  session,  1792,  it 
was  enacted  that  slaves  might  be  employed  on  either 
side  of  the  Potomac,  either  on  the  public  buildings  in 
the  new  city  of  Washington  or  by  the  Potomac  Com- 
pany.    In  1794  amended : 

"That  every  slave  brought  from  Virginia  to  Maryland,  by 
virtue  of  this  act,  shall  be  carried  back  to  Virginia  within 
twelve  calendar  months  from  the  completion  of  the  public 
works,  .  .  .  and  every  slave  not  carried  back,  as  aforesaid, 
shall  be  entitled  to  freedom." 

November  session,  1795,  the  treasurer  of  the  State 
was  authorized  to  subscribe  for  forty  shares  of  the 
augmented  stock  of  the  Potomac  Company,  provided 
that  the  remaining  sixty  shares  be  subscribed. 


k 


Appendix  G.  229 

November,  1796,  permitted  to  narrow  the  width  of 
tlie  locks  at  Great  Falls. 

November,  1797,  permitted  to  collect  tolls  at  the  canal 
at  Great  Falls,  etc. 

November,  1809,  a  further  extension  of  time  for  ten 
years.  Also,  to  raise  a  sum  of  money  by  means  of  a 
lottery. 

November,  1811,  an  act  relative  to  condemnation  of 
land,  etc.,  on  tributary  streams. 

State  of  Virginia ;  An  Act  incorporating  the  Chesa- 
peake and  Ohio  Canal  Company.  Passed  January  27, 
1824. 

' '  "Whereas  a  navigable  canal  from  the  tide  water  of  the  river 
Potomac,  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  to  the  mouth  of  Savage 
Creek,  on  the  north  branch  of  said  river,  and  extending 
thence,  across  the  Allegany  Mountains,  to  some  convenient 
point  of  the  navigable  waters  of  the  river  Ohio,  or  some  one  of 
its  tributary  streams,  to  be  fed  through  its  course,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  mountain,  by  the  river  Potomac  and  the 
streams  which  empty  therein,  and  on  the  western  side  of  the 
mountain,  and  in  passing  over  the  same,  by  all  such  streams 
of  water  as  may  be  beneficially  drawn  there  to  by  feeders, 
dams,  or  any  other  practicable  mode,  will  be  a  work  of  great 
profit  and  advantage  to  the  people  of  this  state,  and  of  the 
neighboring  states,  and  may  ultimately  tend  to  establish  a 
connected  navigation  between  the  eastern  and  western  waters, 
so  as  to  extend  and  multiply  the  means  and  facilities  of 
internal  commerce  and  personal  intercourse  between  the  two 
great  sections  of  the  United  States,  and  to  interweave  more 
closely  all  the  mutual  interests  and  affections  that  are  calcu- 
lated to  consolidate  and  perpetuate  the  vital  principles  of 
Union :  and  whereas  it  is  represented  to  this  General  As- 
sembly, that  the  Potomac  Company  are  willing  and  desirous 
that  a  charter  shall  be  granted  to  a  new  company,  upon  the 
terms  and  conditions  hereinafter  expressed :  and  that  the 
charter  of  the  present  company  shall  cease  and  determine : 


230  Appendix  G. 

"Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  Vir- 
ginia, That,  so  soon  as  the  Legislatures  of  Maryland  and  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  shall  assent 
to  the  provisions  of  this  act,  and  the  Potomac  Company  shall 
have  signified  their  assent  to  the  same  by  their  corporate  act, 
a  copy  whereof  shall  be  delivered  to  the  Executives  of  the 
several  States  aforesaid,  and  to  the  Treasury  of  the  United 
States,  there  shall  be  appointed  by  the  said  Executives  and 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  three  commissioners  on 
the  part  of  each  State,  and  the  Government  of  the  United 
States,  any  one  of  whom  shall  be  competent  to  act  for  his 
respective  Government.  .  .  . 

"...  and  the  said  capital  stock  of  the  company  hereby 
incorporated,  shall  consist  of  six  millions  of  dollars,  divided 
into  sixty  thousand  shares,  of  one  hundred  dollars  each;  of 
which  every  person  subscribing  may  take  and  subscribe  for 
one  or  more  whole  shares;  and  such  subscriptions  may  be 
paid  and  discharged  either  in  the  legal  currency  of  the  United 
States,  or  in  the  certificates  of  stock  of  the  present  Potomac 
Company,  at  the  par  or  nominal  value  of  the  same,  or  in  the 
claims  of  the  creditors  of  the  said  Company,  certified  by  the 
acting  President  and  Directors  to  have  been  due,  for  prin- 
cipal and  debt,  on  the  day  on  which  the  assent  of  the  Com- 
pany shall  have  been  signified  by  their  corporate  act,  as  herein 
before  required;  Provided,  That  the  said  certificates  of  stock 
shall  not  exceed,  in  the  whole  amount  the  sum  of  three 
hundred  and  eleven  thousand  one  hundred  and  eleven  dollars 
and  eleven  cents ;  nor  the  said  claims  the  sura  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy  five  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars;  Provided, 
also ;  That  the  stock  so  paid  for  in  certificates  of  the  stock  of 
the  present  Company,  shall  be  entitled  to  dividend,  only  as 
hereinafter  provided;  and  that  no  payment  shall  be  received, 
in  such  certificate  of  stock,  until  the  Potomac  Company  shall 
have  executed  the  conveyance  prescribed  by  the  thirteenth 
section  of  this  act ;  .  .  . 

"Section  11;  And  be  it  enacted,  That  the  President  and 
directors  shall,  annually,  or  semi-annually,  declare  and  make 
such  dividends  of  the  nett  i)rofits  ...  as   they  may  deem 


Appendix  G.  231 

advisable,  after  deducting  therefrom  the  necessary  current, 
and  the  probable  contingent  expenses,  to  be  divided  among 
the  proprietors  of  the  stock  of  the  said  company,  in  propor- 
tion to  their  respective  shares.,  in  manner  following,  that  is 
to  say;  if  such  nett  profits  shall  not  exceed  ten  per  cent,  on 
the  amount  of  shares,  which  shall  have  been  paid  for  in  cur- 
rent money  of  the  United  States,  and  expended  on  the  eastern 
section  of  the  said  canal,  then  the  whole  thereof  shall  be 
divided  among  the  holders  of  such  shares,  in  proportion  to 
their  respective  shares;  but,  if  such  nett  profits  shall  exceed 
the  rate  of  ten  per  cent  per  annum,  in  any  year,  on  such 
amount  of  stock,  then  the  surplus  shall  be  divided  among  such 
stockholders  as  shall  have  paid  for  their  shares  in  certificates 
of  the  debts  of  the  Potomac  Company,  until  they  shall  there- 
from have  received  a  dividend  of  six  per  cent ;  and,  if  a  sur- 
plus yet  remain,  the  same  shall  be  divided  among  the  stock- 
holders who  shall  have  paid  for  their  shares  in  certificates  of 
the  stock  of  the  Potomac  Company,  until  they  shall  have 
received  therefrom  a  dividend  of  six  per  cent  per  annum  on 
such  shares,  etc.  etc.  .  .  . 

Section  12 ;  And  be  it  farther  enacted ;  That  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  Chesapeake  and 
Ohio  Canal  Company,  so  long  as  there  shall  be  and  remain 
any  creditor  of  the  Potomac  Company,  who  shall  not  have 
vested  his  demand  against  the  same  in  the  stock  of  the  Chesa- 
peake and  Ohio  Canal  Company,  to  pay  to  such  creditor  or 
creditors,  annually,  such  dividends,  or  proportion  of  the  nett 
amount  of  the  revenues  of  the  Potomac  Company,  on  an  aver- 
age of  the  last  five  years  preceeding  the  organization  of  the 
said  proposed  company,  as  the  demand  of  the  said  creditor, 
or  creditors  at  this  time,  may  bear  to  the  whole  debt  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy  five  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars. 

' '  Section  13 ;  And  be  it  farther  enacted ;  That,  whenever  the 
Potomac  Company  shall  have  declared  its  assent  to  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act,  in  the  manner  hereinbefore  provided,  it 
shall  be  lawful  for  the  said  company  to  surrender  its  charter, 
and  convey,  in  due  form  of  law,  to  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio 
Canal  Company,  hereby  incorporated,  all  the  property,  rights 


232  Appendix  G. 

and  priviliges,  bj^  them  owned,  possessed,  and  enjoyed,  under 
the  same ;  and  thereupon  it  shall  be  lawful  to  and  for  the  said 
company,  hereby  proposed  to  be  created,  to  accept  such  sur- 
render and  transfer,  and  to  hold,  possess,  use  and  occupy  all 
the  property,  rights  and  privileges,  in  the  same  manner,  and 
to  the  same  effect,  as  the  said  Potomac  Company  now  hold, 
possess  and  occupy  the  same  by  law;  and  thereupon  the 
charter  of  the  said  Potomac  Company  shall  be,  and  the  same 
is  hereby  vacated  and  annulled,  and  all  the  rights  and  powers 
thereby  granted  to  the  Potomac  Company,  shall  be  vested  in 
the  company  hereby  incorporated;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  last  mentioned  company,  until  every  section  of  the 
contemplated  canal  shall  be  completed,  so  as  to  be  used  and 
enjoyed  for  the  purposes  of  navigation,  to  keep  the  corre- 
sponding part  of  the  river,  in  a  proper  state  for  navigation, 
and  in  good  order  as  the  same  now  is ;  and  in  default  thereof, 
they  shall  be  in  all  things  responsible,  in  the  same  manner  as 
the  Potomac  Company  is  now  responsible." 

A  similar  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  of  Maryland  in  December,  1824.  A  confirmatory 
act  was  passed  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
and  approved  in  March,  1825. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the  Potomac 
Company  was  called  for  the  16th  May,  1825,  at  George- 
town, and 

"Unanimously  declared  the  full  and  free  assent  of  the 
Potomac  Company  to  the  said  act  incorporating  the  said 
Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  Company,  and  to  all  the  pro- 
visions thereof." 

Another  special  general  meeting  was  called  for  the 
10th  July,  1828,  at  Semmes  Tavern,  Georgetown,  to 
take  into  consideration  the  acts  amendatory  of  the  acts 
incorporating  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  Com- 
pany and  it  was  unanimously  resolved 


Appendix  G.  233 

' '  That  the  assent  and  approbation  of  the  Potomac  Company 
is  hereby  given  expressly  to  each  and  all  of  said  acts,  so  far 
as  the  same  may  be  deemed  necessary  to  the  validity  or 
future  operation  of  each  and  all  of  said  acts,  in  as  full  and 
perfect  manner  as  if  each  and  all  of  said  acts  were  herein 
specifically  enumerated  and  recited." 

James  Keith,  Chairman. 

Still  another,  and  tlie  last,  special  general  meeting 
of  the  stockholders  was  called  for  the  4th  August,  1828, 
when  it  was  resolved 

"That  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  Potomac  Com- 
pany be,  and  they  are  hereby,  instructed  to  convey,  without 
further  delay,  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  Potomac  Com- 
pany to  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  Company,  in  con- 
formity with  the  charter  of  the  latter  company,  and  the  past 
resolutions  of  the  Potomac  Company." 

Accordingly  on  the  15th  August,  1828,  the  convey- 
ance was  duly  made  and  signed  by  John  Mason,  Presi- 
dent, Jonah  Thompson,  John  Laird  and  Clement  Smith. 
C.  Vowell  did  not  for  some  reason  sign. 


I 


PART   III. 

LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF   COLO.  CHARLES 
SIMMS,   GENTLEMAN,  OF  VIRGINIA. 


Colo.  Charles  Simms,  Gentleman 
(Drawn  by  Mrs.  J.  O.  Estabrook  from  Miniature) 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  COLO.  CHARLES 
SIMMS,  GENTLEMAN,  OF  VIRGINIA. 

In  Virginia  before  the  War  of  the  Revolution  an 
ambitious  young  man  of  gentle  birth  found  his  choice 
of  a  career  restricted  to  practically  three  pursuits ;  he 
might  manage  his  own  plantation  and  represent  his 
parish  in  the  House  of  Burgesses,  he  might  become  a 
surveyor  and  speculate  in  western  lands,  or  he  might 
take  up  the  newly  popular  practice  of  law;  colonial 
military  service  was  neither  attractive  nor  remunera- 
tive. 

Charles  Simms,  gentleman,  of  Prince  William 
County,  who  had  acquired  an  unusually  good  educa- 
tion, probably  at  the  College  of  William  and  Mary, 
with  some  fortune  at  his  disposal,  chose  the  law,  fore- 
seeing in  the  political  ferment  of  the  time  an  opening 
for  legal  talent,  and  entered  the  law  office  of  Mr.  Mer- 
cer, of  Fredericksburg,  as  a  student.  It  was,  however, 
as  an  astute  man  of  affairs  that  lie  later  became 
prominent. 

We  read  in  the  Virginia  Gazette  of  May  29  of  an 
early  unfortunate  business  experience : 

"In  May  1773,  or  near  that  time  I  gave  my  bond  to  John 
Reid  of  Amherst  Co.  for  1251.  currency  payable  in  April 
1774.  I  forewarn  any  person  from  taking  said  bond  of  Reid 
as  I  will  not  pay  any  of  the  money  till  such  time  as  the 
said  Reid  fulfils  his  bargain  M-ith  me.     Chas.  Simms." 

It  is  not  known  how  it  came  that  he  was  in  Col.  Chas. 
Lewis's  regiment  of  militia,  by  order  of  Governor  Dun- 

237 


238  Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms. 

more  rendezvoused  on  tlie  fields  of  Greenbrier  for  the 
advance  on  tlie  hostile  Indians  on  the  Ohio;  his  study 
of  law  ended  he  may  have  followed  the  tide  of  emigra- 
tion into  the  west  in  search  of  a  business  location,  or 
he  may  have  joined  Capt.  James  Woods'  independent 
company  on  the  Governor's  call  for  the  militia,  but  he 
appears  to  have  been  in  the  little  force  that  made  the 
heroic  nineteen  days'  march  over  the  trackless,  forest- 
covered  hills  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kanawha  in  Septem- 
ber, 1774,  as  it  is  recorded  that  Col.  Charles  Lewis  died 
in  his  arms  in  the  momentous  engagement  that  freed 
Virginia  from  the  terror  of  the  savage  foe  on  her 
frontier. 

With  the  aid  of  the  collection  of  Simms'  papers  in 
the  Library  of  Congress  supplemented  by  outside  data 
we  are  enabled  to  follow  his  career  from  Point  Pleas- 
ant in  1774  through  the  Revolutionary  War — with  his 
courtship  of  a  lovely  lady — sympathize  with  his 
troubles  with  western  land  titles,  learn  of  his  political 
and  social  friendships,  his  business  successes  and 
failures,  to  his  participation  in  the  War  of  1812-14. 

With  his  command  he  joined  Governor  Dunmore  north 
of  the  Ohio  and  proceeded  to  Pittsburgh,  or  as  it  was  at 
the  moment  called  "Fort  Dunmore,"  and  in  possession 
of  Virginia  authorities  as  the  capital  of  the  newly 
formed  district  of  West  Augusta.  With  the  keen  busi- 
ness insight  that  was  characteristic  he  at  once  per- 
ceived the  importance  of  the  situation  of  the  rough 
little  settlement  and  determined  to  locate  permanently. 
A  bright  new  sign  was  soon  swinging  above  a  door  on 
the  one  street — *'Chas.  Simms  Counselor  and  Atty-at- 
Law. ' '  Judging  from  the  court  reports  of  the  district 
litigants  were  not  long  in  appearing  for  advice.  The 
place  was  overcrowded  with  all  the  motley  throng 
ever  to  be  found  in  the  outposts  of  civilization  in  time 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms.  239 

of  excitement — adventurers,  hunters,  traders,  fugitives 
from  settlements  farther  out,  militia  and  camp  fol- 
lowers. The  life  was  rough,  but  Simms  found  con- 
genial companions  among  the  officers  and  agents  from 
Virginia  and  formed  friendships  that  endured  through- 
out life.  Notable  among  these  friends  were  Gren.  John 
Neville  whom  Governor  Dunmore  had  placed  in  mili- 
tary command  of  the  territory  he  had  seized  from 
Pennsylvania,  for  many  years  the  most  prominent  man 
west  of  the  mountains  and  whose  family  still  retains 
the  old  ascendancy;  John  Harvie,  Commissioner  to 
treat  with  the  conquered  Indian  tribes,  the  organizer 
of  the  Virginia  land  office,  member  of  the  Virginia 
Eevolutionary  conventions  and  of  the  Continental 
Congresses;  and  James  Wood,  Eevolutionary  soldier 
and  patriot,  the  intrepid  young  envoy  to  the  Indians 
of  the  far  west,  a  mission  which  rivaled  that  of  Wash- 
ington twenty  years  earlier.  One  of  the  residents  in 
this  faraway  settlement  was  Alex.  Ross,  who  was  an 
Indian  trader  and  land  speculator,  later  in  the  pay  of 
the  British  and  a  friend  of  Dr.  Connolly.  He  had 
built  for  himself  a  pretty  residence  on  the  bank  of  the 
Alleghany  River ;  this  Simms  bought  and  with  Neville 
and  Harvie  occupied  '^en  garcon."  The  three  invested 
in  military  land  warrants,  which  were  cheap,  and  lo- 
cated many  advantageously.  Several  they  located  on 
a  beautiful  island  a  few  miles  below  the  Fort,  buying 
the  interest  of  the  half-breed  Indian,  Montour,  who 
was  in  possession.  Simms  also  purchased  through 
Ross  large  tracts  of  land  on  Raccoon  Creek  from  one 
Dunbar  who  had  title  from  George  Croghan,  the  noted 
Indian  trader.  Croghan  had  availed  himself  of  the 
opportunity  offered  at  the  meeting  of  the  tribes  at  Fort 
Stanwix  to  acquire  immense  bodies  of  land  on  the 
Ohio.     His  titles  were  declared  void  by  Virginia  and 


240  Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  S'umns. 

Simms'  efforts  to  perfect  tliem  occupied  mucli  of  his 
attention  for  several  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1776  Simms  and  Harvie  were  dele- 
gates to  the  convention  in  Williamsburg  that  adopted 
the  constitution  which  was  in  force  for  fifty  years.  In 
November  of  the  same  year  commissions  were  given 
to  Wood,  Neville  and  Simms  in  the  Virginia  line  of  the 
Continental  Army.  In  March,  1777,  Wood  and  Simms 
were  commissioners  for  taking  at  Pittsburgh  evidence 
in  land  trespass.  Three  regiments  were  recruited  west 
of  the  mountains  for  the  Revolutionary  War;  in  the 
spring  of  1777  that  under  the  command  of  the  three 
friends  joined  the  main  army  under  General  Wash- 
ington, then  in  headquarters  near  Morristown.  It  is 
worthy  of  note  that  the  rough  settlers  on  the  border 
liberally  provided  for  the  families  of  the  soldiers  in  the 
army;  this  is  of  record  in  the  minutes  of  the  court  of 
West  Augusta. 

While  the  general  outlook  was  so  gloomy  for  the 
revolted  colonies  in  1777  and  1778  the  young  officers  in 
camp  found  gay  entertainment  in  the  homes  of  neigh- 
borhood families.  Our  young  Virginia  major  in  his 
handsome  uniform  of  buff  and  blue  must  have  been  a 
brave  figure ;  not  over  tall,  lithe  and  active,  of  the  fre- 
quent blond  type — it  was  not  surprising  that  he  should 
win  the  heart  of  the  most  beautiful  and  popular  young 
lady  in  the  county.  Miss  Nancy  Douglass,  whose  father 
had  been  a  major  under  General  Schuyler  in  the  old 
war.  Some  of  the  love  letters  written  by  Simms  during 
the  strenuous  campaign  in  the  Jerseys  have  been  pre- 
served and  are  models  in  their  way. 

"Brunswick,  July  3d.  1778. 
''My  Dearest  Nancy, 

"The  day  after  the  action  near  Monmouth  Court  House,  I 
wrote  you  by  a  Militia  man  who  lives  in  or  near  Trenton,  in 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms.  241 

which  I  informed  you  of  our  success  in  that  action.  Since 
that  time  I  have  been  able  to  collect  a  more  particular  account 
of  the  losses  on  both  sides. 

"On  our  side  the  Killed  wounded  and  Missing  are  Three 
hundred  and  Forty,  on  the  Enemies  upwards  of  One  thou- 
sand. Two  hundred  and  seventy  of  them  we  buried  on  the 
field,  a  considerable  number  were  buried  by  themselves — The 
Grenadiers  Guards  and  Light  Infantry  the  Flower  of  the 
British  Army  were  engaged  and  for  the  first  time  were  de- 
feated by  part  of  the  American  Army.  The  Enemy  behaved 
with  their  usual  cruelty  and  inhumanly  Bayoneted  several 
of  our  men  who  fell  into  their  hands,  among  the  rest  a  Capt. 
Homes  a  fine  young  fellow  from  Va.  The  Treatment  they 
met  with  from  us  was  very  different.  The  Officers  who  fell 
into  our  hands  speak  highly  of  the  Clemency  of  the  Ameri- 
cans. How  very  different  were  my  feelings  while  in  action, 
as  to  what  they  were  in  viewing  the  Field  the  next  morning, 
in  the  heat  of  action  I  beheld  with  pleasure  the  Slautered  foe 
lay  on  the  field  weltering  in  their  blood  and  even  enjoyed  the 
deadly  groans,  but  the  next  morning  when  I  beheld  the  horrid 
spectable,  I  could  not  suppress  the  feelings  of  nature;  was 
shocked  at  the  ghastly  appearance  of  the  dead,  and  lamented 
the  Polly  and  Madness  of  men. 

"Gen'l  Lee  is  arrested  for  misconduct  in  the  action  and 
by  most  of  the  Officers  who  were  with  him  is  greatly  censured, 
thus  you  see  how  precarious  the  reputation  of  an  Officer  is, 
hard  to  be  obtained,  and  in  a  moment  may  be  lost.  The 
Enemy  are  embarking  at  Sandy  Hook,  Colo  Morgan  had  a 
skirmish  with  a  party  of  them  the  day  before  yesterday,  he 
killed  eighteen  and  took  Twelve  without  the  loss  of  a  man  on 
his  side.  The  Loss  of  the  Enemy  since  they  evacuated  Phila- 
delphia, in  killed  prisoners  &  deserters  is  computed  to  Two 
thousand  five  hundred. 

' '  Our  Army  is  this  far  on  their  March  to  the  North  River. 
"We  shall  cross  over  to  the  State  of  New  York,  and  when  I 
shall  again  have  the  happiness  of  seeing  my  Dearest  Girl 
heaven  only  knows,  but  this  you  may  be  assured  of,  that  go 
where  I  will,  I  shall  always  entertain  the  same  ardent  affection 
17 


242  Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simjiis. 

for  you  that  I  now  do,  and  a  firm  belief  that  you  have  the 
same  Tender  passion  for  me,  constitutes  my  greatest  happi- 
ness and  as  nature  has  bestowed  on  you  a  great  share  of 
good  sense  your  constancy  will  not  admit  of  a  Doubt.  You 
have  given  the  greatest  proof  of  your  affection  in  consenting 
to  part  from  the  fondest  of  Parents,  kind  relations  and  the 
most  amiable  Friends  and  Companions,  to  go  with  me  into 
a  strange  and  distant  Country.  This  Sacrifice  you  have  made 
to  Love  will  forever  call  aloud  on  me  to  endeavour  to  make 
you  happy, — and  believe  me  that  if  I  am  capable  of  making 
you  so  I  shall  never  want  the  inclination. — 

"I  have  always  wish'd  for  an  End  to  this  unnatural  War, 
but  have  now  greater  Reason  to  do  so  as  it  keeps  me  from 
possessing  the  Girl  I  prize  more  than  life. 

"I  am  in  daily  expectation  of  receiving  a  Letter  from  you, 
if  I  do  not  soon  I  shall  lose  all  Patience.  ]\Iy  compliments 
to  Sister  Patty,  tell  her  I  keep  a  sharp  lookout  to  find  a  man 
worthy  to  possess  so  charming  a  Girl.  Remember  me  to  Miss 
B.  I  am  much  prejudiced  in  her  favor,  she  has  a  charming 
countenance  that  indicates  a  Heart  susceptible  of  every  tender 
passion,  her  Friendship  for  you  endears  her  to  me.  I  hope 
Mrs.  Douglass  is  made  happy  by  the  return  of  her  Husband. 

"]My  Compliments  and  best  Wishes  attend  all  Friends  and 
am  sincerely  Yours 

"Ch.    SIMMS " 

''White  Plains,  Aug.  6th.  1778. 
''My  Dearest  Life — I  rec'd  your  Letter  by  Dr.  Caypole  a 
few  Days  since.  I  am  glad  to  find  my  Dear  Girl  is  not 
Punctilious,  trifling  Punctilios  between  us  ought  by  no  means 
to  be  regarded,  you  must  be  convinced  that  the  receipt  of  a 
Letter  from  you  affords  me  the  highest  Satisfaction  and  I 
have  not  a  doubt  but  you  are  alwaj^s  anxious  to  hear  from  me, 
I  shall  therefore  omit  no  opportunity  of  writing  to  you,  and 
must  entreat  you  to  continue  your  Favors  by  every  oppor- 
tunity. Should  I  by  any  fortuitous  event  be  prevented  from 
writing  to  you  a  greater  length  of  time  than  usual,  pray  don't 
construe  it  as  a   slight  or  neglect.     Your  Charms  and  my 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms.  243 

ardent  Affection  is  a  sufficient  security  against  anything  of 
that  sort.  I  sincerely  congratulate  your  Brother  and  Sister 
on  the  birth  of  their  daughter  and  heartily  Join  with  you 
in  wishing  that  the  dear  little  Pledge  of  their  Love  may  live 
to  be  an  Ornament  to  her  sex  and  a  Comfort  to  them  in 
their  old  Age.  .  .  .  You  desire  I  would  return  to  you  as  soon 
as  I  can  consistant  with  my  Duty,  you  may  rely  on  it  I  will, 
nothing  but  that  shall  keep  me  a  moment  from  you,  for 
nowhere  else  can  I  be  happy.  I  still  flatter  myself  that  the 
Enemy  will  withdraw  themselves  from  the  Continent  in  a 
short  time,  and  then  my  dear  Nancy  my  whole  time  shall  be 
devoted  to  you. 

' '  There  is  very  little  News  in  Camp  worth  telling,  but  such 
a  it  is  you  shall  have.  The  French  Fleet  have  block 'd  up 
Khode  Island,  the  Enemy  had  not  time  to  get  all  their  Vessels 
off,  they  burnt  the  King  Fisher  and  two  Row  Galleys,  and  a 
good  many  small  Craft.  The  British  Troops  on  the  Island 
retired  to  Newport  and  we  expect  every  day  to  hear  of  their 
being  captured  by  Gen'l  Sullivan  who  has  a  very  considerable 
Army  near  them.  Last  IMonday  a  fire  broke  out  in  the  City 
of  New  York  and  it  is  said  forty  Houses  were  consumed.  I 
was  on  the  Enemy's  lines  with  a  detachment  at  the  time  and 
saw  the  fire  very  plain  but  did  not  know  at  that  time  it  was  in 
the  City. 

"I  am  much  obliged  to  your  Brother  George  for  his  en- 
deavors to  procure  the  articles  I  wrote  for;  I  am  glad  he  did 
not  get  them,  as  a  considerable  quantity  of  Goods  are  sent 
from  the  State  of  Virginia  for  their  Officers,  &  I  expect  .  .  . 
on  better  terms  than  he  could  procure  them  for  me. 

"Remember  me  to  all  Friends  and  believe  me  to  be 
"Sincerely  and  Forever  Yours,  &c. 

"Ch.  Simms." 
"P.  S.     Aug.  8th. 

"I  expected  the  happiness  of  receiving  a  Letter  from  you 
by  Major  Hopkins  but  was  disappointed,  do  let  me  have  the 
pleasure  of  hearing  from  you  by  every  opportunity.  I  am 
rejoiced  to  hear  your  Health  is  pretty  well  recovered.  Adieu 
my  Dear  Girl." 


244  -^^f^  ^^^  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms. 

"White  Plains,  Aug.  9th.  1778. 
"]\Iy  Dearest  Nancy, 

' '  I  wrote  you  a  few  days  since  by  Colo.  Green  which  I  hope 
you  have  received.  I  am  afraid  you  will  think  me  trouble- 
some in  writing  so  often,  believe  me  my  Dear  Girl  it  gives 
me  the  most  sensible  pleasure  to  write  to  you,  and  am  sorry 
that  I  shall  not  have  so  frequent  Opportunities  of  enjoying 
that  pleasure,  as  I  have  heretofore  had.  A  Light  Infantry 
Corps  is  to  be  composed  immediately,  his  Excellency  has 
Honored  me  with  a  Command  in  that  Corps,  and  of  course 
shall  be  detached  from  the  main  Army,  so  that  I  shall  not 
have  such  frequent  opportunities  of  sending  Letters  to  you, 
but  be  assured  I  shall  with  pleasure  embrace  every  oppor- 
tunity that  offers.  I  hope  there  is  no  necessity  of  begging 
you  to  write  frequently  to  me,  you  will  direct  to  me,  in  the 
Light  Infantry  Corps. 

''I  am  my  Dearest  Girl  with  unfeigned  Affection, 
"Your  devoted  H'ble  Serv't, 

"Ch.   SIMMS." 

In  a  New  Jersey  newspaper  of  the  28th  of  December, 
1778,  we  can  read  this  interesting  announcement : 

"Married,  on  Tuesday  se'n-night  in  this  place  Charles 
Simms  Esq.  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  2nd.  Virginia  Regi- 
ment, to  the  truly  amiable  Miss  Nancy  Douglass,  daughter  of 
Mr.  William  Douglass,  late  of  the  City  of  New  York." 

In  the  same  paper  three  weeks  later  Simms  advertised 
for  sale  land  on  the  Ohio  Kiver  15  miles  below  Pitts- 
burgh and  warranted  the  titles.  The  young  lady's 
dower  seems  to  have  been  her  father's  Virginia  mili- 
tary warrant  for  5,000  acres  of  land. 

Reports  of  the  animosity  of  the  Pennsylvania  courts 
to  Virginia  land  titles  continually  harrassed  Simms; 
he  had  been  obliged  to  relinquish  the  lovely  island 
through  Eichard  Butler's  interpretation  of  the  terms 
of  the  Stanwix  treaty  with  the  Indians,  as  being  west 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms.  245 

of  tlie  Oliio.  We  can  surmise  liis  grim  satisfaction 
years  after  on  learning  of  the  scalping  of  the  officious 
Indian  agent.  The  added  necessity  for  his  personal 
supervision  of  the  selection  and  surveying  of  the  5,000- 
acre  warrant  induced  him  to  ask  for  a  leave  of  absence. 

''Philadelphia,  Aug.  6,  1779. 

' '  To  THE  HONBLE.  THE  PrESDT.  OF  CoNGRESS  ; 

''Sir;  I  am  so  circumstanced  as  to  be  under  the  necessity 
of  retiring  from  the  Army  for  some  time  and  have  therefore 
taken  the  liberty  of  addressing  you  on  the  subject.  My  prin- 
cipal reason  for  requesting  leave  of  absence  is  this;  The  As- 
sembly of  Virginia  have  opened  a  Land  Office  for  granting  the 
waste  and  unappropriated  Lands  within  the  State ;  The 
greater  part  of  the  Property  I  Possess  consists  in  Lands  on 
the  "Waters  of  the  Ohio,  which  I  claim  by  improvements  &c 
and  which  are  unpatented ;  there  is  a  limited  time  allowed  by 
the  Assembly  for  ascertaining  such  claims.  I  must  therefore 
request  leave  of  absence  to  attend  to  that  business, — what 
time  it  will  take  to  transact  it  I  cannot  say ;  but  I  will  join  the 
Army  again  as  soon  as  I  possibly  can  with  any  degree  of 
conveniency. 

"I  am  Sir,  Your  Obdt.  Hble.  Servt. 

"Chas.  Simms,  Lt.  Colo.  2nd.  Va.  Begt." 

This  request  was  referred  to  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Army. 

''Phila.  Aug.  8th.  1779. 
"To  Gen'l  Washington, 

"Sir; — Herewith  enclosed  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Colo, 
Simms  respecting  leave  of  absence.  Congress  refers  this  re- 
quest to  your  Excellency — The  Colonel  will  be  the  bearer  of 
this  letter  &  will  more  fully  explain  the  reasons  of  his  apply- 
ing to  Congress  in  the  first  instance. 

''I  have  the  honour  to  be  with  Great  Respect  and  Esteem,, 
etc.  ' '  John  Jay.  ' ' 

Simms  continued  on  to  Headquarters  at  West  Point 
and  presented  his  letters  to  the  Commander-in-Chief. 


246  Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Sinnns. 

This  reminder  of  tlie  unsatisfactory  condition  of  his 
own  western  lands  and  of  his  personal  sacrifices  tried 
the  General's  temper;  he  administered  a  sharp  repri- 
mand to  the  young  colonel  and  refused  to  grant  a  leave 
of  absence  or  to  accept  a  resignation  of  his  commis- 
sion.    He  replied  to  Congress  as  follows: 

"West  Point,  Aug.  19,  1779. 
' '  To  the  President  of  Congress, 

"Sir — I  had  the  honour  to  day  to  receive  your  Letter  of 
the  8th.  hy  Lieut.  Colo.  Simms  of  the  2d.  Virginia  Regiment 
with  a  copy  of  a  Letter  from  him  to  your  Excellency  and  of 
an  order  of  Congress  on  the  7th.  in  consequence.  The  In- 
dulgence requested  by  Colo.  Simms  however  interesting  it  may 
be  to  himself,  appears  to  me  so  incompatible  with  the  Public 
Service  and  to  involve,  and  to  lead  to,  so  many  disagreeable 
consequences,  that  I  have  thought  it  my  duty  to  refuse  it. 

"Were  the  point  to  rest  with  him,  from  the  circumstances 
of  his  Regiment  in  respect  to  Field  Officers,  his  request  might 
be  granted,  without  any  material  injury,  but  this  cannot  be 
expected,  as  there  are  many  other  Officers  in  the  same  line 
who  have  the  same  pretensions.  And  it  is  difficult  if  not  im- 
possible, for  me  to  determine  with  precision,  where  such  ap- 
plications would  stop,  as  they  might  be  made  upon  the  same 
principles  and  with  as  much  propriety  by  every  Officer  and 
by  every  soldier  in  the  Army.  Those  who  have  not  already 
surveyed  lands  or  done  some  act  to  acquire  a  title  of  owner- 
ship, may  urge  if  they  incline  so  to  do,  that  it  is  time  they 
should  and  insist  that  they  will  not  neglect  the  opportunity 
longer. 

' '  I  have  very  fully  and  explicitly  pointed  out  to  Colo.  Simms 
the  probable  or  at  least  the  possible  consequences  which  would 
flow  from  a  compliance  with  his  request ;  but  he  says  he  cannot 
decline  it  and  waits  on  Congress  to  resign  his  Commission 
which  I  refused  to  accept. 

"In  justice  to  Lieut.  Colo.  Simms  I  must  observe  that  he 
is  a  brave,  intelligent  and  good  Officer,  and  I  am  sorry  that 
any  circumstances  should  have  arisen  in  his  affairs  to  compel 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Sinuris.  247 

him  either  to  resign  his  Commission  or  to  make  a  request  so 
inconsistent  with  the  Public  interest. 
"I  have  the  Honour  to  be 

"With  the  Greatest  Esteem  and  Respect 
"Your  Excellencys  Most  Obt.  Servt. 

"Geo.  Washington." 

Simms  was  persistent  and  again  addressed  Congress : 

"Phila.  Sept.  2d.  1779. 

''Sir; — On  my  application  to  Congress  some  time  past  for 
leave  of  absence  they  were  pleased  to  refer  me  to  his  Excel- 
lency, Gen'l.  Washington. — 

"The  General  for  some  particular  reason  did  not  think 
proper  to  grant  the  Indulgence  I  requested  nor  would  he 
accept  of  my  resignation,  but  referred  me  to  Congress. — As 
the  matter  now  stands  wholy  with  them,  I  must  beg  leave  to 
point  out  more  particularly  the  necessity  I  am  under  of  being 
absent  from  the  Army  than  I  did  in  my  first  Letter. 

"In  the  Year  1775  I  became  the  purchaser  under  Colo. 
Croghan  of  between  three  and  four  thousand  acres  of  Land 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Pitt,  being  part  of  a  Tract  he 
purchased  from  the  Indians  upwards  of  thirty  years  ago.— It 
was  my  intention  when  I  made  the  purchase  to  settle  on  and 
improve  the  Lands,  which  under  the  Laws  of  Virginia  would 
have  sav'd  them,  but  was  prevented  from  doing  so  by  entering 
into  the  Continental  Service  in  1776 — The  Assembly  of  Vir- 
ginia at  their  last  Session  determined  all  titles  to  Lands 
derived  from  Indians  to  be  void. — Yet  Sir  I  have  reason  to 
think  if  I  attend  at  their  next  Sitting,  which  is  the  first  ^Ion- 
day  in  October  next,  I  can  obtain  from  them  a  confirmation  of 
my  title  to  the  above  mentioned  Lands,  for  I  can't  suppose 
they  will  suffer  me  to  lose  so  considerable  a  part  of  my  prop- 
erty, by  devoting  my  time  and  services  to  the  Publick,  when 
they  have  it  in  their  power  to  redress  me. 

"I  would  beg  leave  to  suggest  to  you  that  there  are  a  large 
porportion  of  Officers  to  the  number  of  men  in  the  Virginia 
line,  and  that  they  are  now  present  with  the  Regt.  I  belong  to 
as  it  stands — incorporated  with  others,  one  Colo,   and  two 


248  Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Slmms. 

Majors,  so  that  it  is  hardly  probable  the  Reg't  will  suffer  by 
my  absence  and  I  think  it  must  appear  pretty  evident  to 
every  person  that  unless  I  attend  to  my  own  Business  this 
Fall  I  must  lose  considerably,  which  consideration  ^^dll  I  make 
no  doubt,  justify  me  in  the  opinion  of  all  reasonable  men  for 
requesting  Leave  of  Absence  at  this  Juncture. 

"His  Excellency  conceiving  a  number  of  Officers  to  be  in 
the  same  predicament  with  myself  was  the  Reason  of  his  not 
granting  me  leave  of  absence — I  can't  help  observing,  that 
there  are  very  few  if  any  whose  circumstances  so  urgently  re- 
quire their  immediate  attention  to  their  private  Business  as 
mine  do ;  and  if  there  are  any  (if  I  may  be  allowed  to  judge 
from  my  own  feelings)  they  will  be  reduced  to  the  necessity 
of  resigning  their  Commissions,  unless  they  obtain  Leave  of 
Absence,  and  I  leave  you  to  determine,  whether  it  is  not  better 
to  part  with  Officers  for  a  short  time  than  altogether, — 

"Permit  me  to  assure  you  Sir,  that  it  is  with  the  greatest 
reluctance  I  trouble  the  Honble.  Congress  with  a  matter  that 
concerns  me  only  as  an  individual,  and  that  I  shall  cheerfully 
acquiesce  in  their  determination  respecting  me.  If  I  am  re- 
duced to  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  leaving  the  Army,  I 
shall  do  it  with  the  consciousness  of  having  serv  'd  my  Country 
to  the  utmost  of  my  abilities  as  long  as  I  could  possibly  with- 
out involving  myself  and  family  in  ruin  and  distress. 

"I  am  Sir,  with  the  utmost  sincere  Esteen  and  Respect, 
"Your  Obt  Humle  Servt,  Chas.  Simms." 

The  letters  from  Gen.  Washington  and  Simms  were 
referred  to  a  committee  of  three,  who  reported  favor- 
ably, and  Simms  obtained  leave  nntil  November.  The 
following  letter  however  was  addressed  to  the  Virginia 
Assembly,  which  probably  had  its  influence  in  deter- 
mining Simms  to  leave  the  army. 

"In  Congress,  Sept.  4th.  1779. 
"The  Committee  to  whom  were  referred  the  letter  from 
Genl.  Washington  &  Colo.  Simms  brought  in  a  report.  Where- 
upon,— 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms.  249 

Resolved; — That   leave    of    absence    from    his    Regiment   be 
given  Colo.  Simms  till  the  twentieth  day  of  November  next. 

"That  copies  of  this  application  to  Congress  and  Genl. 
Washington's  letter  be  transmitted  to  the  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Virginia  and  that  it  be  Signified  to  him  that  as  Lieut. 
Colo.  Simms'  application  has  been  complied  with  at  a  time 
when  his  absence  is  with  the  greatest  reluctance  dispensed,  it 
is  the  wish  of  Congress  he  may  be  enabled  to  rejoin  his 
Regiment  as  speedily  as  possible ;  and  that  such  measures  may 
be  taken  respecting  claims  similar  to  that  of  Colo.  Simms'  as 
may  prevent  other  officers  of  the  Virginia  Line  making  ap- 
plications for  the  like  indulgence  of  absence,  which  must  in 
the  midst  of  a  Campaign,  be  utterly  inadmissable  and  that  a 
copy  of  this  Resolution  be  transmitted  to  the  Governor  of 
Virginia. 

"Extract  from  the  Minutes  of  Congress. 
"(Signed)  Chas.  Thompson,  Sec'y." 

"Peince  William  Co.  Virginia  Novr.  8,  1779 
"To  THE  President  of  Congress; 

"Sir,  I  am  extremely  sorry  that  my  Circumstances  will  not 
admit  of  my  joining  the  Army  again.  I  find  by  woeful  ex- 
perience, if  I  pay  that  attention  to  my  duty  as  an  Officer  which 
is  necessary,  that  my  family  must  inevitably  be  reduced  to 
want,  and  although  I  have  the  warmest  attachment  to  the 
Glorious  Cause  in  which  I  have  been  long  engaged,  yet  I 
cannot  think  of  reducing  those  to  distress  who  have  a  right  to 
look  up  to  me  for  comfort  and  support. 

"I  must  therefore  begg  leave  to  resign  my  Commission 
which  you  will  find  inclosed. 

' '  I  hope  I  shall  be  believed  when  I  assure  you  that  nothing 
but  the  most  pressing  necessity  should  induce  me  to  part  with 
a  Commission  which  I  have  held  so  long. 

"Perhaps  it  may  be  necessary  to  inform  you  that  I  settled 
my  Accounts  with  the  Auditors  {for  the  money,  erased)  last 
Sept. 

"I  am  Sir  with  due  Respect.  &c.  Ch.  Simms." 


250  Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Shnms. 

We  find  the  following  in  the  Journal  of  the  House  of 
Delegates  of  the  Virginia  Assembly  for  Oct.  16,  1779 : 

"A  memorial  of  Chas.  Simms  was  presented  to  the  House 
and  read  setting  forth  that  he  hath  a  claim  to  2,961  acres  of 
land  on  the  Ohio  Kiver  and  Raccoon  Creek  which  proceeds 
by  purchase  from  George  Croghan  whose  title  was  founded 
on  a  purchase  from  the  Six  Nations ; — that  the  said  lands  have 
been  improved,  but  he  apprehended  .  .  .  (illegible)  and 
settlements,  and  have  it  not  in  their  power  to  ascertain  their 
claims  within  the  time  limited  by  law;  and  praying  that  his 
claim  aforesaid  may  be  established,  and  that  a  law  may  pass 
to  secure  the  rights  to  officers  and  soldiers  of  lands  on  the 
western  waters,  allowing  them  a  reasonable  time  to  prove  and 
ascertain  their  claims  after  they  are  discharged  from  the 
service." 

Again,  Oct.  19,  1779 : 

"The  opinion  of  the  committee  is.  That  the  memorial  of 
Lieut.  Colo.  Chas.  Simms  praying  that  his  title  to  2,961  acres 
of  land  lying  on  the  Ohio  River  which  he  Purchased  from 
Alex,  Ross  and  Wm.  Dunbar  may  be  confirmed,  having  been 
prevented  from  improving  said  lands  as  by  law  is  required 
by  being  in  the  Continental  Army  ever  since  the  year  1776 
and  that  he  might  obtain  grants  for  the  said  lands  upon 
paying  the  usual  composition  money  under  the  former  govern- 
ment, is  reasonable." 

Leaving  his  amiable  wife  in  the  family  home  in 
Prince  William  County  Simms  again  went  to  the  west, 
where  he  probably  remained  for  a  year  or  more,  sur- 
veying and  locating  lands.  Another  disagreeable 
surprise  awaited  him  in  the  Pittsburgh  courts — now  in 
the  jurisdiction  of  Pennsylvania — in  a  suit  to  enforce 
the  payment  of  notes  he  had  given  Ross  for  the  lands 
he  had  yet  to  prove  up  in  the  Virginia  land  office,  the 
state  having  seized  all  of  the  Ross  effects.  A  journey 
to  Philadelphia  was  then  necessary  to   seek  justice 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms.  251 

from  the  Supreme  Council ;  his  petition  can  be  read  in 
the  Colonial  Records  of  the  state.  It  must  be  remem- 
bered that  these  over-tlie-mountain  journeys  in  the 
eighteenth  century  were  no  pleasure  excursions  of  a 
few  hours  but  long  and  tedious  as  well  as  perilous 
weeks  in  the  saddle.  After  a  long  delay  the  Pennsyl- 
vania higher  courts  cancelled  his  ''bonds."  During 
the  sojourn  in  the  west  at  that  time  he  located  many 
thousand  acres  of  fine  land  on  the  Ohio,  in  Kentucky 
and  western  Virginia ;  nine  hundred  acres  of  the  Doug- 
lass warrant  he  located  on  the  island,  covering  what  he 
had  previously  located  and  purchased  in  1775.  Again 
Harvie  and  Neville  were  his  partners,  through  his 
generosity,  for  they  had  no  claim  in  equity  to  the  new 
title. 

Business  interests  indicated  a  permanent  residence 
at  Pittsburgh,  but  life  in  the  frontier  settlement  would 
be  rough  and  altogether  unsuited  to  his  refined  and 
cultivated  wife,  so  for  their  home  he  selected  Alex- 
andria, a  lively  Virginia  port  on  the  Potomac.  There 
by  his  ability  and  fortune  he  at  once  took  a  prominent 
position  as  a  citizen,  while  the  fair  Nancy  with  her 
beauty,  which  is  still  a  memory  in  Alexandria,  and  her 
tact  won  all  hearts  and  led  the  fashion. 

But  the  titles  to  western  lands  never  ceased  to  annoy. 
In  1783  the  Pennsylvania  Assembly  granted  to  General 
Irvine  as  a  testimonial  to  his  great  military  services 
a  pre-emption  right  to  the  Island,  later  giving  him  a 
patent.  General  Irvine  disregarded  Simms 's  protests 
and  evicted  the  tenant  in  possession;  and  thus  began 
one  of  the  famous  American  land  cases,  which  with  one 
other  quieted  all  the  titles  in  dispute  on  account  of  the 
conflicting  claims  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  pre- 
vious to  the  final  location  of  boundaries.  The  story  of 
this  suit  is  one  of  the  most  romantic  in  all  land  litiga- 


252  Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  S'lmms. 

tion  and  would  itself  furnish  material  for  an  interest- 
ing volume  and  would  include  the  names  of  all  the 
famous  Virginia  lawyers  of  the  time.  It  was  finally 
decided  in  Simms'  favor  hy  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States  in  1800. 

Naturally  John  Harvie  in  the  land  office  at  Eich- 
mond  was  greatly  interested. 

"Richmond,  Feb'y  4th.  1784. 

"Dear  Sir,  The  weather  has  been  so  severe  as  to  prevent 
the  Regular  passing  of  the  Post  Rider  which  delay 'd  your 
Letter  of  the  11th  ultimo  from  reaching  my  hands  till  the  last 
post  day.  As  I  understand  Colo.  Neville  is  of  the  Executive 
Council  in  Pennsylvania  I  hope  he  will  pay  proper  attention 
to  our  Interest  in  ]\Iontour's  Island.  I  am  glad  you  sent  to 
him  the  Entrys  under  which  we  claim  it.  I  also  wrote  to  him 
on  the  same  Subject. 

"The  Receipt  I  sent  you  was  a  sufficient  voucher  that  the 
Land  Office  Warrants  had  been  issued  for  the  use  of  Mr. 
Watson  and  the  Register's  fee  not  paid,  but  whether  he  or 
another  satisfys  them  is  Immaterial  to  me,  Mr.  Watson  from 
his  general  character  will  take  Early  methods  for  their  speedy 
adjustment. 

"Writs  of  Escheat  do  not  issue  from  the  Land  Office  and 
in  no  case  within  the  District  of  the  Northern  Neck  has  this 
Office  power  or  authority  over  their  vacant  or  escheated 
Lands.  Warrant  from  me  cannot  be  located  on  them  as 
.  .  .  issue  neither  is  there  any  mode  existing  in  Law  for  ac- 
quiring (as  I  can  perceive)  vacant  or  Escheated  Property 
within  the  Northern  Neck.  The  Power  and  Authority  of  the 
late  Lord  Fairfax  Land  Office  expired  with  him  &  it  has  not 
since  been  revived  in  any  other  person,  therefore  till  some- 
thing is  determined  respecting  his  Charter  by  the  Legislature 
all  Lands  I  think  must  remain  with  yours  in  statu  quo. 
"  I  am  Dr.  Sir  Yr.  Most  Obt  Servt. 

"J.  Harvie." 

It  does  not  appear  that  Neville  ever  exerted  himself 
to  save  the  island  for  himself  and  friends,  yet  it  has 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms.  253 

ever  since  been  known  by  his  name — perhaps  the  deli- 
cacy of  his  official  position  deterred  him  from  publicly 
assisting  the  Virginia  claimants. 

"Richmond  May  10,  1785. 

''Dear  Sir — I  am  extremely  glad  to  hear  that  you  are  a 
member  of  the  Assembly  and  that  you  will  attend  at  the  next 
session,  as  this  circumstance  only  I  believe  will  ever  allow 
us  to  enjoy  a  few  weeks  of  that  friendly  Intercourse  that  once 
strongly  subsisted  between  us  and  which  I  shall  ever  feel 
myself  fond  of  cultivating,  for  the  longer  we  live  in  the 
World  the  more  certain  we  find  it  to  be  a  fact  that  our  early 
friendships  are  the  most  lasting  and  agreeable. 

"I  really  know  not  what  to  observe  to  you  upon  the  extra- 
ordinary and  unprecedented  Law  that  has  lately  passed  the 
Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  respecting  Montour's  Island.  I 
suppose  they  are  at  all  events  determined  to  wrest  it  from  us 
in  favour  of  Genl.  Irvine  and  this  being  the  case  our  only 
resort  must  be  to  the  Interposition  of  our  Legislatures  and  in 
order  to  lay  the  matter  fully  and  properly  before  them  T 
think  you  ought  by  all  means  to  procure  a  survey  upon  the 
Warrants  you  located  in  the  year  1780  and  also  a  copy  of  the 
survey  that  was  made  for  us  by  Colo.  Crawford  provided  it 
can  now  be  found  upon  his  Books  and  if  not  there  to  be 
found  a  certificate  of  the  Survey  from  those  that  attended 
him  as  chain  carriers,  perhaps  it  might  not  also  be  amiss  to 
obtain  from  Philadelphia  a  Copy  of  Butler's  Letter  and  an 
answer  with  the  Depositions  that  were  sent  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Congress  from  Indian  affairs  on  that  subject.  If 
these  cannot  readily  be  obtained  the  survey  was  of  such 
notoriety  in  Pittsburg  we  surely  cannot  be  at  a  loss  to  prove 
it  having  actually  been  made,  I  think  a  copy  of  the  survey 
was  delivered  to  me  by  Colo.  Crawford  but  whether  I  returned 
it,  gave  it  to  you,  or  I  mislaid  it  is  a  matter  of  doubt.  Yet  it 
may  be  well  for  both  you  and  me  to  search  over  our  old 
papers  which  on  my  part  I  will  immediately  do,  But  I  am 
afraid  if  its  found  it  will  rather  make  against  than  in  favor 
of  our  claim,  as  I  think  it  will  appear  to  be  .  .  .  or  Military 


254  ^'f^  ^'"^^  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms. 

"Warrant  for  only  50  acres,  and  if  it  should  appear  on  the  face 
of  the  survey  we  must  not  attempt  to  use  it  on  the  Tryal  and 
general  evidence  that  a  survey  was  made  for  us  will  be  much 
more  to  our  advantage. 

"I  am  Sir,  Yr  most  Obt  Servt 

"J.  Harvie. 
' '  Note.  Is  there  no  bringing  about  a  composition  with  Genl. 
Irvine  so  as  to  Induce  him  to  Kelinquish  his  claim  to  this 
Island  and  ask  for  the  Bounty  of  his  State  somewhere  else. 
I  think  if  I  had  a  pleasant  acquaintance  with  him  I  could 
bring  it  about." 

Among  the  Simms  papers  are  many  letters  from 
John  Marshall,  with  whom  Simms  evidently  had  much 
legal  business ;  some  of  these  are  of  general  interest. 

"Richmond,  June  16,  1784. 

"Bear  Sir;  I  received  your  two  favors — the  one  on  the 
subject  of  the  petition  and  the  other  inclosing  a  bond.  Mr. 
Henderson  promised  to  write  you  immediately  to  let  you 
know  that  by  a  standing  order  of  the  House  no  petition  con- 
cerning private  property  could  be  received  till  it  had  been 
published  in  the  County  and  in  the  Gazette.  If  this  is  done 
by  the  next  session  I  flatter  myself  we  may  be  able  to  carry 
it  through  the  House. 

"I  see  no  prospect  of  amending  the  mode  of  distributing 
justice  in  this  Commonwealth.  The  Circuit  Court  system 
meets  with  too  much  opposition  from  selfish  individuals  to  be 
adopted.  Those  Magistrates  who  are  tenacious  of  authority 
will  not  assent  to  anything  w'hich  may  diminish  their  ideal 
dignity  and  put  into  the  hands  of  others  a  power  which  they 
will  not  exercise  themselves.  Such  of  the  County  Courts' 
lawyers  too  as  are  suspicious  that  they  do  not  possess  abilities 
sufficient  to  enable  them  to  stand  before  Judges  of  Law  are 
opposed  from  motives  of  interest  to  any  plan  w^hich  may  put 
the  distribution  of  Justice  into  the  hands  of  Judges.  Every 
attempt  to  amend  or  alter  the  County  Court  Establishment 
has  been  alike  ineffectual.  Indeed  there  are  many  members 
who  really  appear  to  be  determined  against  every  measure 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms.  255 

which  may  expedite  and  facilitate  the  business  of  recovering 
debts  and  compelling  a  strict  compliance  with  Contracts. 
These  are  sufficient  to  throw  impediments  in  the  way  of  any 
improvements  in  our  Judisiary  system  though  they  are  not  so 
powerful  as  to  shut  up  our  Courts  altogether. 

"A  Bill  is  now  pending  under  the  consideration  of  the 
House  which  has  employed  its  ablest  ]\Iembers  and  will  I  believe 
end  in  being  printed  for  the  consideration  of  the  People ;  'tis 
to  restrict  vessels  from  foreign  Nations  to  certain  Ports.  Nor- 
folk and  Alexandria  are  the  two  which  are  now  in  considera- 
tion, 'Tis  calculated  to  agrandize  very  much  those  two  com- 
mercial Towns,  and  should  it  be  adopted  will  I  trust  produce 
many  happy  effects. 

"We  seem  at  length  determined  to  hold  but  one  Session  in 
the  year,  a  Bill  for  that  purpose  has  gone  through  a  Com- 
mittee of  the  Whole  House,  it  has  not  yet  passed  into  a  Law, 
but  the  greatest  obstacles  are  I  hope  surmounted. 

' '  As  soon  as  the  Assembly  rises  I  shall  go  up  to  Fauquier — 
my  present  plan  is  to  pass  my  summers  there  and  my  winters 
here,  I  am  uncertain  whether  or  not  'twill  hold  in  practice. 
Present  my  compliments  to  your  Lady. 

"I  am  Dear  Sir,  with  the  greatest  Esteem,  Your  &c.  &c. 

"J.  Marshall." 

Simms  was  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Assembly  in 
1786,  1793  and  1797.  Mrs.  Simms  spent  the  winter  of 
1786  in  New  York  with  her  mother  and  sister;  her 
letters  then  written  are  filled  with  innocent  and  inter- 
esting gossip. 

"New  York,  Feb.y  5th.  1786. 

"My  Dearest  Charleses  Letter  by  Colo  Lee  was  delivered  to 
me  by  him  yesterday  he  tells  me  Mrs  Lee  was  prevented  from 
coming  with  him  by  sickness — But  that  he  expects  her  as  soon 
as  the  weather  and  roads  will  permit — by  that  time  I  hope  I 
shall  be  in  Alexandria  with  my  Dear  Kitty,  I  have  been  quite 
uneasy  since  the  receipt  of  a  letter  from  Mrs  Swan  Dated 
Jany  23rd  which  contains  an  account  of  my  lov'd  girls 
having  the  fever  and  ague,  Colo  Lee  tells  me  you  have  got 


256  Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms. 

home — this  has  made  me  more  easy  on  my  Kittys  account 
since  I  cannot  be  with  her  myself,  I  think  you  the  most  proper 
person  as  your  affection  I  am  sure  will  induce  you  to  take 
every  possible  Care  of  her  dear  precious  health,  your  son  is 
perfectly  well  and  is  such  a  Chatter  box  that  I  can  scarcely 
write.  .  .  . 

"You  M'rite  that  you  had  seen  Mrs  Mayo  and  that  she  was 
gayest  where  all  were  gay — I  am  not  surprised  to  hear  it — 
for  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  External  accomplishments  were  more 
attended  to  by  Mrs  Mayo  than  internal  ones,  this  was  the 
opinion  I  form'd  of  her  on  my  first  acquaintance  and  I  never 
from  her  conduct  had  reason  to  alter  that  opinion — You  will 
smile  no  Doubt  when  I  tell  you  that  she  has  wrote  to  her 
Mother  to  send  her  by  the  first  vessel  that  sails  from  here  to 
Virginia  some  Indian  and  Buckwheat  meal — if  she  had  only 
wrote  for  the  Indian  meal,  I  should  have  thought.  Knowing 
her  satirical  turn,  that  she  meant  a  reflexion  on  the  Ancient 
Dominion,  But  as  she  has  also  wrote  for  Buckwheat  I  must 
confess  I  can  no  more  understand  what  she  could  mean  than 
when  she  talk'd  french  to  me  at  Trenton.  ..." 

Simms  was  undoubtedly  a  leader  in  every  public 
enterprise  of  the  bustling  little  city  in  which  he  had  his 
home.  In  1786  the  academy  was  founded  with  Wash- 
ington, Stuart,  Chas.  Lee,  Simms  and  nine  other  trus- 
tees— the  shares  were  5  1.  each  annually;  in  1789 
Simms  and  sixteen  other  citizens  were  empowered  by 
the  Assembly  to  raise  1500  1.  by  lottery  for  paving  the 
principal  streets — perhaps  the  ancient  boulders  on 
Washington  St.  date  from  that  lottery;  in  1792  he 
secured  an  act  incorporating  the  Bank  of  Alexandria 
with  a  capital  of  $150,000;  he  was  an  original  stock- 
holder in  the  Potomac  Company,  in  the  Marine  Insur- 
ance Co.,  in  several  turnpike  companies,  etc.  He  seems 
to  have  been  interested  in  all  important  state  suits  at 
law  as  counsel  and  on  terms  of  pleasant  intimacy  with 
all  prominent  families  in  Virginia  and  Maryland.    He 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms.  257 

was  a  Mason  in  good  standing  and  a  Vestryman  of  old 
Christ  Cliurch.  In  1788  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  con- 
vention which  adopted  the  national  constitution  and 
on  the  committee  of  amendments.  His  wife's  letters 
give  his  position  on  the  question  of  adoption. 

"Alexandria,  June  16th  1788. 

''My  Dear  Charles,  Your  letter  of  the  12th.  instant  I  rec'd 
friday — I  fear  you  will  not  be  at  home  by  the  end  of  this 
month,  as  you  write  that  there  is  but  little  progress  made 
in  the  business  you  are  upon — our  dear  children  are  very 
well — I  think  John  thrives  as  perceptibly  as  the  "Scarcity 
Root"  and  that  is  saying  much  for  him — for  that  grows 
astonishingly.  .  .  . 

"I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  goodness  in  offering 
to  get  me  Elegant  Bracelets — and  I  should  certainly  prefer 
those  done  with  hair — if  done  with  yours,  and  the  Children's 
hair — but  I  think  I  will  decline  getting  any  of  either  kind, 
when  I  requested  you  to  get  them,  I  expected  they  would  not 
be  more  than  three  dollars — if  I  had  imagined  they  would 
cost  more  I  should  not  have  thought  of  them, — if  you  will 
Bring  yourself  by  the  last  of  the  month  I  will  readily  excuse 
your  not  getting  me  any  kind  of  Bracelets.  .  .  . 

"With  my  best  wishes  for  your  very  precious  health  and 
speedy  return — I  remain  Your  grateful  and  affectionate  wife 

"N.  SIMMS." 

Probably  she  received  the  bracelets  made  from  the 
hair  of  her  loved  ones. 

"Alexandria,  Sunday  June  8th.  1788. 

"I  rec'd  a  letter  from  my  dear  Charles  yesterday  dated  th 
4th  of  June — am  happy  to  hear  you  are  well,  and  must  beg 
you  will  use  every  precaution  to  keep  yourself  so — I  have 
always  heard  Richmond  was  an  unhealthy  situation  and  as 
you  are  subject  to  Bilious  comj)laints  I  have  my  fears  for 
you.  .  .  . 

"I  am  no  politician — But  am  pleased  to  hear  the  new  Con- 
stitution is  likely  to  be  adopted,  as  I  pay  great  deference  to 


258  Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simyns. 

your  opinion  and  judgment  in  weighty  matters  and  as  you 
think  it  will  Conduce  to  the  happiness  and  Prosperity  of 
America — I  have  not  a  doubt  but  it  will.  .  .  . 

"I  am  very  glad  to  hear  ]\Ir  Hughes  has  arrived  safe  in 
Kentucky — from  the  alarming  accounts  of  the  Hostilities  of 
the  indians  about  the  time  I  thought  he  must  have  gone  I  was 
afraid  he  would  never  have  reached  there.  .  .  . 

"The  most  agreeable  intelligence  which  your  letter  contains 
is  that  you  expect  to  be  at  home  before  the  end  of  this  month 
— that  you  may  not  be  deceived  in  the  (to  me  flattering  ex- 
pectation) is  the  sincere  wish  of  your  affectionate  Wife — 

"Nancy  Simms. 

"N.  B.  Please  to  make  my  compliments  to  the  Ladies  in 
Richmond  with  whom  I  am  acquainted — ]\Irs  Randolph  Mrs 
Mayo  and  Miss  Fairfax — Kitty  and  Douglass  send  their  loves 
to  you." 

These  letters  give  us  an  insight  into  the  admirable 
disposition  of  the  beautiful  lady  and  account  for  the 
always  loverlike  solicitude  of  her  husband. 

Thus  wrote  Edmund  Randolph  after  the  convention : 

''Dear  Sir;  Being  now  at  liberty  to  resume  a  part  of  my 
former  profession  and  finding  it  necessary  for  my  convenience 
to  go  to  the  Court  of  Appeals  under  its  new  establishment  I 
beg  leave  to  inform  you  of  this  circumstance.  I  shall  also  be 
ready  to  give  advice,  to  state  cases  for  argument  and  occa- 
sionally but  not  constantly,  to  go  to  any  of  the  District  or 
Superior  Court.  In  short  I  would  undertake  any  business 
which  might  not  require  an  absence  from  home.  A  letter 
directed  to  ]Mr.  John  Brown  of  Richmond  will  be  forwarded 
to  me  in  Williamsburg  by  the  stage  and  an  answer  will  be 
returned  through  an  agent  whom  I  shall  appoint." — Etc. 

Randolph  was  not  permitted  to  remain  long  in  the 
privacy  of  his  Williamsburg  home,  being  appointed 
Attorney-General  for  the  United  States  by  President 
Washington  in  1789. 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms.  259 

With  Charles  Lee  Simms  had  many  business  transac- 
tions and  legal  affairs.  They  were  jointly  interested 
in  200,000  acres  of  land  in  Randolph  County;  as  Attor- 
ney-General from  1795  Lee  was  of  great  service  in  the 
suit  for  the  possession  of  Montour's  Island  at  Pitts- 
burgh. This  letter  from  Philadelphia  dated  Sept  9, 
1791,  refers  to  the  suit : 

"Dear  Sir;  I  attended  the  Board  of  Property  in  your  con- 
test with  Mr.  Sheen.  He,  or  rather  one  Wright  has  sent 
clown  some  papers  which  miscarried ;  I  thought  it  better  there- 
fore to  assent  to  what  the  Board  would  have  ordered  of  them- 
selves that  the  trial  should  be  postponed  to  the  first  ]\Ionday 
in  January  when  it  is  to  be  peremptorily  had.  .  .  .  The 
temper  of  the  Board  with  respect  to  Virginia  rights  is  much 
changed  by  the  discussion  in  Gist's  case.  I  did  not  choose 
to  leave  such  a  subject  to  their  memories  only  but  I  committed 
it  at  large  to  paper.  They  declared  they  had  never  before 
understood  the  Virginia  rights  and  unanimously  gave  Gist  all 
that  he  asked  for.  This  is  a  conversion  which  bears  a  kind 
aspect  on  all  the  Virginia  claimants,  because  every  title  which 
would  be  supported  then  will  now  be  countenanced  here, 
unless  a  prior  title  from  Pennsylvania  shall  thwart  it.  .  .  . 

"P.  S.  Irvine  is  fumbling  out  an  answer,  and  the  co-ertion 
of  law  is  too  feeble  to  permit  me  to  press  him  too  close,  lest  he 
should  fly  the  way  and  create  greater  delays. ' ' 

Which  he  did  and  the  case  was  not  finally  disposed  of 
until  1800.  Descendants  of  the  Simms  and  Neville 
families  still  retain  holdings  on  the  beautiful  and  valu- 
able island. 

With  Charles  Lee,  Simms  was  chosen  to  authenticate 
and  interpret  the  will  of  General  Washington ;  he  had 
been  one  of  the  honorary  pall  bearers  at  the  funeral 
and  his  name  is  first  on  the  memorial  in  Christ  Church 
in  Alexandria. 

Thos.  Swann  wrote  him  from  Richmond,  Dec.  24, 
1799: 


26o  Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Sirnms. 

"Bear  Sir;  Your  favor  I  received  yesterday.  We  had 
heard  of  Gen'l  Washington's  death  by  Maj.  West  and  I  am 
happy  to  inform  you  that  we  have  paid  every  respect  to  his 
memory  that  his  great  character  demanded.  The  resolution 
of  the  House  on  the  subject  you  have  no  doubt  seen,  it  was 
drawn  and  presented  by  Mr.  Madison;  we  also  by  another 
resolution  walked  in  procession  on  Sunday  last  to  attend 
divine  service  and  a  sermon  prepared  for  the  occasion." 

The  following  is  a  leaf  from  an  almost  forgotten 
period  of  our  history : 

"I,  George  Doneal,  clerk  of  Fairfax  County,  do  hereby 
certify  that  the  bearer  here-of,  Sarah,  a  yellow  woman  aged 
24  years,  5  feet,  5  inches  high,  slender  made  and  her  children 
was  lately  a  slave  belonging  to  Geo.  Washington,  Esq.  who  by 
his  last  will  and  testament  devised  her  to  Martha  Washington 
during  life,  who  by  an  instrument  of  writing  duly  proved  and 
recorded  in  said  court  hath  released  the  said  Sarah  from  the 
service  due  her.  Sarah's  children,  Lucy,  2  years  old — Lewis, 
1  year  old." 

Perhaps  the  most  arduous  public  work  done  by  Clias. 
Simms  was  with  the  "Patowmack  Company"  for  im- 
proving the  navigation  of  the  river  and  opening  an 
easy  communication  with  the  western  country.  This 
was  the  pioneer  enterprise  for  securing  the  Ohio  coun- 
try trade,  its  accomplishment  Washington's  life-long 
effort.  The  work  of  the  Company  at  the  Great  Falls 
of  the  Potomac  was  the  most  important  engineering 
feat  of  the  eighteenth  century.  Simms  had  promptly 
responded  to  the  request  of  General  Washington  in 
1785  and  subscribed  for  stock;  he  punctually  met  the 
frequent  assessments  and  always  voted  his  own  stock 
at  the  annual  meetings,  but  he  does  not  appear  to  have 
taken  any  active  part  in  the  management  until  he 
became  a  director  in  1802;  he  remained  on  the  board 
until  1807,  when  he  was  elected  president,  serving  in 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms.  261 

that  capacity  until  1814  when  in  order  to  assist  in  the 
litigation  of  an  important  case,  he  sold  his  stock  and 
left  the  Company.  For  twelve  years  he  had  guided  its 
affairs  through  such  financial  stress  as  the  country 
has  not  since  experienced. 

His  elder  sons  were  educated  at  Princeton;  a  son 
and  a  daughter  married  into  the  family  of  his  old 
friend,  General  Neville,  a  daughter  married  the  son  of 
Levin  Powell,  a  Federalist  congressman  from  Vir- 
ginia, who  wrote  Simms  many  political  letters  worthy 
of  reproduction.  Simms  himself  was  a  notahle  Feder- 
alist and  had  much  distrust  of  Jefferson ;  as  a  national 
elector  in  1796  he  favored  the  election  of  Patrick  Henry 
* '  as  the  one  safe  man. ' ' 

Western  lands  were  a  continual  annoyance;  the 
brilliant  Presley  Neville  writing  from  Pittsburgh  in 
October,  1801 : 

"Kegrets  inability  to  remit  a  collection.  .  .  .  We  have  no 
news,  money  scarce  as  usual.  I  was  at  the  Island  two  days 
ago  and  your  part  stands  exactly  where  it  did,  without  the 
least  change.  I  will  venture  to  say  your  tenant  will  do  it  no 
injury  as  he  is  too  lazy  to  cut  a  stick  unless  from  absolute 
necessity.     My  respects  to  Mrs.  Simms." 

Philanthropic  appeals  did  not  pass  him  by : 

"Alexandria,  Octo.  the  18th.  1788. 
"Sir; — There  is  an  orphan  lad  in  town,  an  apprentice  to 
one  Ramsay,  a  Joyner,  who  I  have  reason  to  believe  is  not  well 
used  and  whom  his  friends  wish  to  have  on  that  account  taken 
away.  His  name  is  John  Donaldson.  I  shall  therefore  be 
glad  if  you  will  apply  to  the  Court  next  week  in  his  behalf 
and  on  his  making  his  ill  treatment  appear  it  is  hoped  that 
he  will  be  removed  and  that  it  will  not  be  again  put  off  for 
further  trial.     I  have  enclosed  24s.  and  am  Sir,  etc. 

"Bryan  Fairfax." 


262  Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Siinms. 

This  interesting  letter  is  from  the  John  Hughes, 
who  with  mother  and  sisters  went  from  Alexandria 
to  try  his  fortunes  in  Kentucky  and  who  represented 
Simms  in  his  land  transactions  there. 

"Danville,  March  30th  1792. 

''Dear  Sir,  Enclosed  is  the  copy  of  the  bill  'Ash  against 
you.'  Isaac  Hite  has  been  sick  ever  since  I  came  home  which 
has  prevented  me  from  seeing  him.  I  think  as  you  are  un- 
acquainted with  the  nature  of  your  claim  it  will  be  necessary 
to  make  J.  H.  a  Defendant — therefore  it  will  be  best  for  you  to 
send  me  a  formal  answer  stating  in  what  manner  he  is  in- 
terested and  that  he  has  transacted  the  whole  business. 

"Perhaps  from  the  information  I  gave  you  when  at  your 
house  you  will  expect  me  to  say  something  about  J/rs.  Hughes 
— but  alass,  I  have  met  with  the  fate  not  uncommon  to  absent 
Lovers — I  mean,  the  being  jilted.  But  however  I  endeavor  to 
bear  my  fate  with  Christian  Fortitude. 

"Our  convention  which  is  to  meet  on  Monday  next  will  I 
am  afraid  committ  many  blunders.  County  Committees  com- 
posed of  very  many  ignorant  &  some  bad  men  have  borne  the 
sway  in  our  Elections.  The  exclusion  of  Lawyers  not  from 
the  Legislature  only  but  from  the  barr,  the  abolition  of 
Slavery,  and  low  salaries  to  the  officers  of  Government,  and 
that  to  be  paid  in  produce,  the  committees  it  is  expected  will 
insist  much  upon.  It  will  be  a  new  scene  to  see  a  Chief 
Judge  at  the  end  of  a  term,  riding  upon  a  bag  of  corn  &  driv- 
ing home  the  cows  &  calves  he  has  received  for  this  quarters 
Salary.  And  the  Governor  trudging  home  with  a  basket  of 
Eggs  upon  his  arm.  One  man  has  offered  to  serve  for  £25 
per  annum,  and  to  receive  that  in  corn,  and  from  the  best 
authority,  I  mean  his  own,  information,  I  am  taught  to  believe 
he  was  a  great  man  in  a  northern  State. — 

"My  mother  &  sister  are  well  &  much  pleased  with  the 
Country.     Etc. 

"P.  S.  I  think  it  is  probable  as  I  am  not  now  to  be  bound 
in  the  Silken  bonds  of  love  I  shall  cross  the  mountain  again  in 
the  Fan." 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms.  263 

Simms  was  the  confidant  of  many  of  the  dissatisfied 
Federalist  politicians  during  the  Democratic  adminis- 
trations of  Jefferson  and  Madison;  J.  Stratton  evi- 
dently took  the  situation  very  seriously. 

"Washington,  Feb'y  5—1803. 

''Dear  Sir,  Conformable  to  my  promise  I  have  procured  for 
yourself  and  Mr  Swann  each  a  bed;  one  in  my  room  & 
the  other  contiguous  to  it — On  Wednesday  next  I  bid  adieu 
to  Washington  and  with  it  I  take  a  final  leave  of  politics;  on 
that  subject  I  shall  endeavor  never  again  to  discourse  or  even 
think,  when  I  look  back  at  what  is  past  the  scene  is  humiliat- 
ing and  disgusting,  and  when  I  look  forward  the  prospect  is 
hideous  and  disgraceful,  that  I  think  it  the  wisest  plan  to  shut 
my  eyes  and  close  away  if  possible  the  dark  night  which  is 
coming  on.  There  was  once  a  Constitution,  there  were 
formerly  checks  and  balances  to  confine  the  different  depart- 
ments of  Government  within  their  proper  spheres,  but  these 
are  past  away  as  a  tale  that  is  told, — all  power  is  now  vested 
in  the  House  of  Representatives  and  if  I  may  hazard  a  last 
political  sentiment  I  will  say  the  most  pernicious  and  de- 
structive to  the  Happiness  of  jMankind  is  the  Tyranny  of  a 
public  body  where  responsibility  being  divided  among  many  is 
felt  by  none. 

' '  I  find  I  have  wandered  farther  in  politics  than  I  intended, 
it  is  the  effect  of  the  meloncholy  review  I  have  just  taken  of 
our  measures  previous  to  writing  my  circular. 

"I  will  thank  you  to  write  by  first  mail  when  the  Norfolk 
packet  sails,  I  feel  disposed  to  purchase  a  Horse  but  the 
state  of  my  finances  will  not  allow  it  without  your  aid,  could 
you  get  the  enclosed  note  discounted  in  your  bank  so  that  I 
could  get  the  money  by  you  on  Monday  without  inconvenience 
to  y'r  self. 

"My  best  respects  attend  Mrs  Simms  and  y'r  family — 
Y'r  friend 

"J.  Stratton 
"P.  S. 

"The  note  will  with  great  certainty  be  taken  up  before 
due." 


264  Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms. 

There  was  a  warm  friendship  existing  between 
Henry  Lee  (Light  Plorse  Harry)  and  Simms;  the 
latter  frequently  assisted  the  old  warrior  financially, 
he  also  took  subscriptions  for  his  "Memoirs."  The 
following  is  from  a  letter  dated  Dec.  6, 1807 : 

''  ...  I  received  your  letter  enclosing  one  from  Col. 
Mercer  and  I  thank  you  and  him  for  the  trouble  you  take  to 
enlighten  me  with  facts,  though  I  am  surprised  you  should 
have  named  me  for  my  work  being  written  with  much  free- 
dom will  occasionally  displease  and  I  have  no  desire  to  engage 
in  such  in  my  last  period  of  life. 

"Will  you  tell  me  to  what  regiment  you  belonged  or  com- 
manded when  you  went  to  reinforce  Col.  Smith  at  Mud  Island  ? 
In  reviewing  my  work  I  find  a  blank  left  for  this  designation 
— and  also  tell  me  to  what  state  and  regiment  Col.  Greene, 
the  hero  of  Ft.  jNIercer  belonged. 

"Also  I  wish  you  to  see  Gilpin  and  to  negociate  with  him  for 
my  debts.  I  will  give  him  good  lands.  At  all  events  get  the 
execution  in  your  hands  and  the  power  to  bargain  with  me, 
then  I  go  and  exert  myself  where  I  may  be  useful.  Let  me 
see  you  here  after  breakfast." 

From  a  later  letter : 

' '  I  fear  you  do  not  regard  my  injunction  as  to  my  name,  the 
Memoirs  of  the  Southern  War  are  nearly  finished  and  are 
written  with  too  much  freedom  for  the  times.  It  will  appear 
without  my  name. 

' '  I  wish  I  was  near  two  or  three  of  my  friends  that  I  might 
get  the  good  of  their  perusal  and  amendments.  This  is  not 
practicable  and  I  shall  put  the  last  touch  to  the  performance 
in  a  few  Aveeks.  It  will  be  published  by  subscription  and  I 
reckon  upon  your  aid  in  your  town  as  holder  of  the  subscrip- 
tion paper,  etc.  Tell  me  whether  you  will  take  the  trouble? 
Carrington  in  Richmond  and  some  other  such  men  elsewhere." 

•    Simms  was  early  appointed  collector  of  customs  at 
Alexandria,  which  was  a  somewhat  lucrative  post  until 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms.  265 

European  warfare  drove  all  commerce  off  the  seas. 
He  was  mayor  of  the  city  during  the  British  occupa- 
tion in  1814.  He  prudently  sent  his  family  into  the 
country  and  wrote  his  wife  daily  accounts  of  the 
situation. 

"Alexandria,  Aug.  28 — 1814. 

"My  Dear  Nancy — I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that 
the  enemy  retreated  last  night  from  the  City  without  paying 
Alexandria  the  Compliment  of  a  visit — We  have  nothing  now 
to  apprehend  but  the  approach  of  their  vessels.  I  rec'd  an 
express  this  morning  informing  me  that  Two  Frigates,  a 
Sloop  of  War  and  Two  Tenders  were  off  Maryland  point  at 
7  o'clock  yesterday  morning.  I  am  not  without  hope  that 
they  may  not  come  up  as  high  as  the  Port  as  their  object 
has  been  effected  by  the  destruction  of  the  public  buildings  in 
the  City." 

"Sept.  3d.  1814. 

' '  The  British  Squadron  began  to  fall  down  the  river  yester- 
day morning  and  was  not  as  low  as  the  Fort  this  morning 
except  one  vessel  which  the  day  before  yesterday  went  down 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  White  House,  and  a  pretty  heavy 
firing  has  been  kept  up  this  morning  in  that  neighborhood. 
]Mr.  Cook  has  gone  into  the  vicinity  of  the  White  House  and 
on  his  return  will  be  able  to  give  you  a  full  account  of  the 
state  of  things  there.  Alexandria  has  so  far  had  a  most  provi- 
dential escape.  It  is  impossible  that  men  could  behave  better 
than  the  British  behaved  while  the  town  was  in  their  power, 
not  a  single  inhabitant  was  insulted  or  injured  by  them  in 
their  persons  or  homes.  Your  fear  that  something  might 
occur  to  provoke  them  to  fire  the  Town  was  not  ill  founded. 
The  day  before  yesterday  Capt.  Porter,  Lieut.  Creighton  and 
Lieut.  Piatt  naval  officers  rode  into  Town  like  furies  and 
seized  on  a  poor  unarmed  midshipman,  a  mere  stripling  and 
would  have  carried  him  off  or  killed  him  had  not  his  neck- 
handkerchief  broke  and  he  escaped  from  them.  This  rash  act 
excited  the  greatest  alarm  among  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town, 
women   and   children   running   and   screaming   through   the 


266  Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms. 

streets  and  hundreds  of  them  lay  out  all  night  without  shelter. 

"I  immediately  prepared  a  message  to  the  Commodore  ex- 
plaining the  manner  and  circumstances  of  the  insult  and  sent 
it  on  board  by  j\Ir  Swann  and  Edmund  I.  Lee,  While  I  was 
paring  the  message  one  of  the  Captains  entered  into  tlie 
parlour  with  the  strongest  expressions  of  rage  in  his  counten- 
ance, bringing  with  him  the  midsliipman  who  had  been  so 
valiantly  assaulted  by  those  gallant  Naval  Officers.  I  ex- 
plained to  him  by  whom  the  outrage  was  committed,  that  the 
Town  had  no  control  over  them  and  ought  not  to  be  held  re- 
sponsible for  their  conduct  and  that  I  was  at  that  time  pre- 
paring a  message  of  explanation  to  the  Commodore.  He  said 
it  was  necessary  it  should  be  explained,  after  which  his  fury 
seemed  to  abate  and  he  went  off.  Before  ]\Ir  Swann  and  IMr 
Lee  got  on  board  the  Signal  of  Battle  was  hoisted  and  as  the 
vessels  were  prepared  for  action  when  Mr  Swann  and  Mr  Lee 
made  their  explanation  the  Commodore  said  he  was  satisfied 
and  ordered  the  Signal  of  Battle  to  be  lowered.  Thus  the 
Town  was  providentially  preserved  from  destruction  by  the 
accidental  circumstance  of  the  midshipman's  neck-handker- 
chief giving  way,  for  had  be  been  killed  or  carried  off  I  do 
not  believe  the  Town  would  have  been  saved  from  destruction. 

"I  do  not  consider  the  Town  perfectly  safe  yet.  If  the 
British  vessels  should  be  prevented  from  passing  the  White 
House  they,  or  some  of  them  may  probably  return  here,  and 
wait  untill  troops  sufficient  to  drive  of  the  militia,  &c  at  the 
White  House  shall  come  to  their  relief  from  Patuxent  and  in 
that  case  this  part  of  the  country  will  become  the  seat  of 
war.  I  cannot  therefore  wish  your  return  untill  we  are  in  a 
more  quiet  state." 

Possibly  the  mayor's  suave  diplomacy  saved  Alex- 
andria from  Washington's  fate. 

An  affectionate  father,  his  children  occasionally  took 
advantage  of  his  generosity;  one  of  the  younger  sons 
frequently  caused  annoyance  by  his  boyish  pranks, 
and  a  son-in-law  was  chronically  in  need  of  financial 
assistance ;  here  is  one  of  his  eloquent  appeals : 


Life  and  Letters  of  Colo.  Charles  Simms.  267 

''Dear  Sir; — Upon  my  honour  I  have  not  language  adequate 
to  describe  to  you  the  pressing  necessity  I  have  for  ten  dollars : 
nor  the  remorse  I  feel  at  being  under  the  painful  obligation 
of  again  soliciting  your  parental  aid." 

Chas.  Simms,  Gent.,  passed  on  to  a  future  life  in 
1819,  leaving  a  large  family  and  a  world  the  happier 
for  his  sojourn. 


INDEX. 

Appendix;   "A."     Letters — George  Washington  to  Gov.  Benjamin 

Harrison,  and  Reply 1.54 

George  Washington  to  Maj.  Gen.  Knox  162 

M.  I.  Stone  to  George  Washington   163 

Jas.  Madison,  Jr.,  to  Thos.  Jefferson    163 

George  Washington  to  G.  W.  Fair:^x 164 

George  Washington  to  Wm.  Grayson 164 

George  Washington  to  Henry  Lee   16.5 

Thos.  Jefferson  to  George  Washington 166 

George  Washington  to  Thos.  Jefferson  166 

Extract  from  Will  of  George  Washington 168 

Appendix;    "  B. "     Appeal  to  the   Stockholders  of   the   Patovnnaek 

Company    169 

Appendix;   "C. "     Report  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  the 

United  States  172 

Appendix;    "D. "     Statement   of   the   Patowmack   Company   in   re- 
sponse to  call  from  Legislature  of  Maryland 178 

Appendix;   "E. "     Extracts  Referring  to  the  Work  of  the  Patow- 
mack Company 188 

From  Due  de  la  Rochef  oucault-Liancourt,  ' '  Travels. ' ' 
From  Isaac  Weld,  Jr!,  ' '  Travels. ' ' 

From  John  Phillips,  ' '  General  History  of  Inland  Navigation. ' ' 
From  Rev.  Sam  '1  C.  Busey,  '  *  Pictures  of  old  Washington. ' ' 
From  National  Intelligencer,  Baltimore  Sun,  George  Town  Mu- 
seum, Baltimore  Advertiser. 
From  Hugh  Taggart,  ' '  Old  Georgetown. ' ' 
Appendix;  "F. "     Report  of  Thos.  Moore,  Engineer  of  Virginia  ..    197 

Report  of  Board  of  Public  Works  of  Virginia. 
Appendix;   "G. "     Acts  of  the  Legislatures  of  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia Concerning  the  Patowmack  Company   210 

Assent  of  the  Patowmack  Company  232 

Assent  to  Amendments  , 233 

Conveyance  to  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  Company 233 

Ballendine,  John,  of  Fairfax  County,  Va 24 

Scheme  for  opening  navigation  of  the  Potomac  River — Goes  to 
London — Circulates  his  "Proposals" — Returns  in  1774 — Ad- 
vertises meetings,  etc.  — Subscription  list— Rights  protected  in 
Virginia  Act. 

Beall,  Thos.  of  George,  Director  in  Patowmack  Company   87 

269 


270  Index. 

Beall,  Thos.  of  Sam '1.,  Secures  contract  for  work  on  river 92 

Extension  of  contract,  settlement   93 

Braddock  Eoad,  Appropriation  by  Virginia  for  improvement 12 

Brindley,  Jas.,  Visits  Mount  Vernon   76 

Brewer,  Jos.,  Appointed  Treasurer  of  Patowmack  Company   112 

Carleton,  Jos.,  Appointed  Treasurer  of  Patovvmaek  Company 100 

Death    112 

Carroll,  Dan  '1  of  Duddington,  Makes  loan  to  Patowmack  Company  .  97 

Director  in  Company   171 

Casanove,  Louis,  Agent  for  Amsterdam  Stockholders   62 

Casts  votes  against  re-imbursement  100 

Clapham,  Josias,  Given  order  for  two  boats   62 

Delayed  by  illness   71 

Director  in  Patowmack  Company 153 

Cresap,  Thomas   3 

Biography  (note)— Settles  on  Upper  Potomac— Hunts  over  the 
mountains,  with  Geo.  Croghan — Land  grant  in  Pennsylvania 
(note) — Hatred  of  Pennsylvanians — Visits  Williamsburg — 
Manager  of  Ohio  Company  in  the  field — Authorized  to  open 
road  over  the  mountains — Blazes  Nemacolin  Path. 

Makes  Survey  of  western  boundary  of  Maryland 13 

In  London,  1770   22 

Visited  by  Washington 23 

Croghan,  Geo.,  Agent  of  Philadelphia  merchants  7 

Land   investments    239 

Cutler,  Eev.  Manasseh,  Visits  Great  Falls 103 

Davis,  John,  Description  of  Great  Falls  of  the  Potomac  (note)    ...  101 

Deakins,  Francis,  Director  in  Patowmack  Company 153 

Deakins,  Wm.,  Jr.,  Director  in  Patowmack  Company   87 

Dinwiddle,  Gov.,  Member  of  the  Ohio  Company 9 

Sends  Washington  to  French  camp  15 

Dorsey,  H.,  Director  in  Patowmack  Company   153 

Dunmore,  Fort,  In  possession  of  Virginia  authorities  238 

Erratum,  For  ' '  Old  City  Hotel, ' '  read  ' '  Wise 's  Tavern  " 61 

Fairfax,  Bryan,  Befriends  an  apprentice  lad 261 

Fairfax,  George  William,  At  Belvoir — Goes  to  western  lands 13 

Fairfax,  Lord,  Meets  Washington  at  Belvoir,  Appoints  him  surveyor  14 

In  Prince  William  County 20 

Fitzgerald,  John,  Director  of  Patowmack  Company 58 

President  of  Patowmack  Company   87 

Fendall,  Philip,  Director  of  Patowmack  Company   93 

Forbes,  Gen.,  Selects  Pennsylvania  Route   16 


Index.  271 

Fort  Stanwix  Treaty    22 

Frederick  Town  Adventurers   17 

Frederick  Town  Adventurers,  Managers 21 

French  Invasion 15 

Foxhall,  Henry,  Director  of  Patowmaek  Company 124 

Gant  and  Fitzhugh,  Attorneys  for  Patowmaek  Company 85 

Gilpin,  George,  Elected  director  of  Patowmaek  Company 58 

Directed  to  employ  laborers 62 

lvalue  of  services  76 

Gist,  Christopher   10 

Engaged  to  select  lands  for  Ohio  Company  grant — reports — 
locates  at  Fort  Red  Stone — with  Virginia  Commissioners 
makes   treaty   with   Indians— lays    off   a   town   at   Chartier's 

Creek    11 

Greenleaf,  Jas.,  Holds  24  shares  in  Patowmaek  Company 104 

Hanbury  &  Co.  of  London,  Held  shares  of  Ohio  Company  stock — 

goods  for  Indian  trade  ordered  from   10 

Hartshorne,  Wm.,  Treasurer  of  Patowmaek  Company 61 

Resigns     100 

Harvie,  John,  Indian  Commissioner  in  West  Augusta  District 239 

Letters  to  Chas.  Simms   252,  253 

Hughes,  John,  Letter  to  Chas.  Simms   262 

Hunter,   Mr.,   Writes   of  visit  to   Mount   A'ernon— Potomac   naviga- 
tion, etc 67 

Jefferson,  Thos.,  Letter  to  George  Washington,  Potomac  navigation     37 

Johnson  Bros.,  At  Frederick   17 

Johnson,  Thos.,  At  Belvoir   13 

Fails  to  secure  navigation  act  in  Maryland 24 

Promoter  of  Potomac  navigation   39 

Elected  director  of  Patowmaek  Company 58 

Qualifies  as  President  of  Patowmaek  Company   84 

Jones,  Walter,  Attorney  for  Patowmaek  Company  with  Mr.  Pinckney  121 

Keith,  Jas.,  and  Chas.  Simms,  Serve  as  Credential  Committee 58 

Keith,  Jas.,  Director  of  Patowmaek  Company   87 

Keith,  Jas.,  President  of  Patowmaek  Company 102 

Laird,  John,  Director  of  Patowmaek  Company 124 

Lancaster,  Treaty  of    8 

Lear,  Tobias,  Director  of  Patowmaek  Company  88 

President  of  Patowmaek  Company   93 

Store  house  at  Matildaville  used  for  depot   94 

Lee,  Chas.,  Clerk  of  Patowmaek  Company  organization 60 


272  Index. 

Letter  to  Chas.  Simms  259 

Lee,  Henry,  Letters  to  Chas.  Simms  relative  to  his  history 264 

Lee,  Thos.,  President  of  the  Ohio  Company  9 

Lee,  Thos.  Sim,  Director  of  the  Patowmack  Company 58 

Lewis,  Capt.  Chas.,  (note)  Describes  Cresap 's  location  on  the  Potomac       6 

McCarty,  Ed.,  Makes  a  loan  to  Patowmack  Company  114 

McPhersou,  Isaac,  Director  of  Patowmack  Company 153 

Madison,  Jas.,  Jr.,  Member  of  Viriginia  Legislature   41 

Letter  to  Thos.  Jefferson   53 

Marbury,  Wm.,  Director  of  Patowmack  Company   118 

Marshal],  John,  Letter  to  Chas.  Simms   254 

Maryland,  Seeking  easier  communication  with  the  west 33 

Maryland  and  Virginia,  diversity  of  commercial  laws   41 

Mason,  Thompson,  Attorney  for  Patowmack  Company 113 

Mason,  George,  Treasurer  of  the  Ohio  Company  9 

Calls  for  meetings  of  stockholders 16 

Faith  in  Ohio  Company  rights 93 

Mason,  Gen.  John,  Director  of  the  Patowmack  Company 93 

Eeport  to   U.   S.   Treasurer    107 

Elected  President  of  the  Patowmack  Company   123 

Matildaville,  Laid  out    87 

Mercer,  George,  In  London  22 

Mercer,  John,  Secretary  of  the  Ohio  Company 9 

Morris,  Eobert,  Promoter  of  Canal  schemes   21 

On  inland  waterways 76 

Montour,  Half-Breed,  Sells  island  to  Simms  &  Co 239 

Mount  Vernon  Compact,  Accepted  by  Legislatures   51 

Myers,  Christ.,  Eecommended  for  superintendent  of  works 90,  91 

Myers,  Mrs.  Jane,  Keeper  of  public  house  at  Matildaville   ....    101,  104 

Nemacolin  Road,  Development  of   15 

Popularity  of   33 

Neville,  Gen.  John,  In  military  command  of  West  Augusta  District  239 

With  Wood  and  Simms  commissioned  to  raise  a  regiment   ....  240 

New  Market,  Conference  at   119 

Ohio  Company,  Organized  8 

Secures  grant  of  land— Engages  Gist  to  select  land— Storehouse 

built  at  Will's  Creek— Goods  ordered  from  Hanbury  &  Co.  .  .  10 

Three  store-houses  built— Use  river  in  transportation 11 

Opposition    of   New    York    and    Pennsylvania    traders— French 

plans   12 

(Note)  List  of  members— Popularity— Stores  at  Chartiers  Creek 

destroyed— Colonists'  distrust  of  the  Company 15 

Last  calls  for  meetings — Political  influence 16  ^ 


Index.  273 

Eef use  to  confirm  Geo.  Mercer 's  agreement   22 

O  'Neill,  C,  Director  of  Patowmack  Company   144 

Patowmack  Company,   Bill  sent  Gov.   Harrison  and  Thos.  Johnson, 

passed  legislatures 44 

Mass  meeting  at  Alexandria,  Conference  at  Annapolis 45 

Eeport  of  conference 46 

Siibseription  books  opened 53 

Account  of  incorporation  54 

Organization   56 

Popularity  of  the  Company 60 

■   Plan  of  work — List  of  stockholders 59 

President  and  Board  of  Directors 61 

Advertise  for  superintendent — Difficulties 62 

Employ  Eumsey  and  Stewart — Directors  examine  river 63 

Meeting  at  Shenandoah,  Instructions  to  Eumsey 64 

Johnson  and  Lee  at  Seneca  and  Shenandoah 70 

Quality  of  free  labor   71 

First  annual  report  of  President  and  Directors   74 

Work  delayed  by  excessive  rains,  petition  for  extension  of  time  79 

Eumsey  resigns,  financial  troubles 80 

Second  annual  report   81 

Acts  secured  for  speedy  collection  of  assessments,  Eichardson 

Stewart  discharged,  Jas.  Smith  appointed  superintendent    .  .  82 

Third  annual  report 83 

Thos.  Johnson  qualifies  as  president   84 

Measures  to  be  taken  for  speedy  collections,  work  ordered  on 

river  between  Cumberland  and  Williamsport    84 

Condemnation  of  land  at  Great  and  Little  Falls 85 

Work  to  commence  on  the  Shenandoah,  contract  for  locks 85 

Annual  report  for  1792,  Fitzgerald  elected  president   86 

Financial  troubles   87 

Secure  extension  of  time,  100  shares  added  to  stock 88 

Weston  requested  to  examine  works   89 

Delinquent  shares  sold,  tolls  to  be  collected,  100  new  shares  ...  90 

Locks  at  Little  Falls  completed  90 

Christ.  Myers  employed  as  superintendent 91 

Buildings  at  Great  Falls,  Thos.  Beall's  contract 92 

Lear    elected    president    with    Keith,    Templeton,    Fendall    and 

Mason,  directors — Extension  of  time   93 

Myers    dismissed — Inclined    plane    at    Great    Falls  —  Harbaugh 

engaged  to  build  locks  94 

Exclusive   rights   on   Shenandoah   to   be   released— Thirty   addi- 
tional shares  95 

General  meeting  authorizes  borrowing  stock — Eeport  of  President  95 

Machine  for  hauling  merchandise  at  Great  Falls 98 


274  Index. 

Appeal  of  directors  (Appendix  B) — Belief  from  Maryland  legis- 
lature      99 

Hartshorne  resigns,  Carleton  appointed,  work  pushed   100 

Dimensions  of  locks  changed   101 

Report  for  1801— Keith  and  board  re-elected   102 

Locks  opened  at  Great  Falls— Visited  by  British  Minister  and 

Manasseh  Cutler 103 

New  undertakings— Chas.  Simms  becomes  director 104 

Virginia  Commissioners  view  works  on  river- Premiums  offered 

for  good  boats   105 

"Work  on  Shenandoah— Out  of  funds 106 

Report    to    U.     S.     Treasurer     (Appendix    C)— Simms   elected 

president    107 

Resort  to  a  lottery  scheme 108 

Secure  extension  of  five  years '  time 110 

Fund  raised  for  improvement  of  Antietam  Ill 

Death  of  Carleton— Appointment  of  Jos.  Brewer — Stone  locks 

ordered  for  Little  Falls— Shenandoah  people  impatient 112 

Dispute  over  lottery  ticket  sale,  secure  loan  from  Maryland   .  .  113 

Conference  with  Shenandoah  people   115 

Appeal  to  Virginia  legislature 116 

President  Simms  resigns   117 

Elie  Williams  becomes  president,  serious  trouble  with  Shenan- 
doah people 118 

Agreement  reached  with  Shenandoah  people 119 

Lottery  suit  dreaded 121 

Loans  secured  from  District  banks — Land  trouble  at  Little  Falls  122 
John  Mason  elected  president.  Brewer  resigns,  Jas.  Moore,  Jr., 

appointed  treasurer 123 

Report  of  1819    124 

Appeal   to   Maryland   legislature    (Appendix   D) — Engineer   of 

Virginia  to  make  examination  of  river  and  works 125 

Communication  from  Maryland  legislature,  reply 126 

Report  for  1821   130 

Report  for  1822   132 

End  of  records— Report  for  1823 135 

Report  of  1824 137 

Agitation  for  a  new  company 139 

Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  Co.  incorporated  by  Virginia 140 

Assent  of  Patowmack  Company— Report  of  1825   141 

Trouble  with  Union  bank 143,  145,  150 

Report  of  1826 144 

Report  of  1827  147 

Report  of  1828 149 

Conveyance  made 151 

Works  at  Great  Falls  abandoned   152 


Index.  275 

Washington's  association  with  the  place   152 

Officers  of   153 

Peter,  George,  Director  of  Patowmack  Company   153 

Peter,  Eobert,  Director  of  Patowmack  Company   118 

Potomac  Eiver,  Inspection  of,  by  Gov.  Sharpe  of  Maryland 15 

Use  of,  by  the  Ohio  Company 12 

Improvement  of,  by  Frederick  Town  Company   17 

Improvement  of,  by  John  Ballendine   24 

Potts,  John,  Jr.,  Clerk  of  Board  of  Directors 61 

Goes  to  Philadelphia 82 

Builds  forge  at  Matildaville  87 

Eandolph,  Edmund,  Letter  to  Simms,  appointed  Attorney  General  .  .  258 

Eoss,  Alex,  Makes  sales  of  land  to  Simms  239 

Eumsey,  James,  Exhibits  boat  to  Gen.  Washington   43 

Employed  by  Patowmack  Company   63 

Advertises  run-a-way  servants 72 

Letter  to  Hartshorne    73 

Eesigns,  files  charges  against  Stewart   79 

Sayre,  Stephen,  Proposes  tontine  41 

Scott,  Gustavus,  Buys  stock,  of  Patowmack  Company 90 

Scots-Irish    Presbyterians     13 

Shepherd,  Abraham,  Given  order  for  two  boats  62 

Simms,  Charles,  Becomes  director  of  Patowmack  Company 104 

Becomes  president  of  Patowmack  Company 107 

Leaves  Patowmack  Company    117 

A  law  student 237 

At  Point  Pleasant  battle— At  Pittsburgh 238 

Friends  on  the  frontier— Land  speculations   239 

Delegate  from  West  Augusta — Receives  major's  commission.  .  .    239 

Commissioner  of  Virginia,  in  Morristown  society 240 

Letters  to  Miss  Douglass  241 

Advertises  land  in  the  west 244 

Antipathy  of  Pennsylvania  courts  to  Virginia  land  titles 244 

Asks  leave  of  absence   245 

Gen.  Washington 's  reply  246 

Second  request  for  leave   24v 

Letter  from  Congress  to  Virginia  Assembly  248 

Eesigns  Commission    249 

Memorial  to  Virginia  legislature  and  reply 250 

In  the  west,  suit  on  Ross '  notes   "-50 

Journey  to  Philadelphia— Douglass  warrant  located  on  Montour 

Island — Title  again  assailed   251 

Locates  in  Alexandria   251 

Delegate  to  Virginia  Assembly   255 


276  Index. 

Activities  in  Alexandria 256 

At  funeral  of  Washington   259 

Connection  with  Patowmaek  Company   260 

Family— Politics    261 

Friendship  of  Henry  Lee  264 

Collector  of  customs — Mayor — Account  of  British  invasion   .  .  .  265 

Death   267 

Simms,  Mrs.  Chas.,  Letters   255,  257 

Simms  and  Keith,  Appointed  credential  committee   58 

Smith,  Clement,  Director  of  Patowmaek  Company   151 

Stewart,  Eichardson,  Employed  by  Patowmaek  Company   63 

Dismissed     82 

Stratton,  J.,  Letter  to  Simms 263 

Stuart,  David,  Director  of  Patowmaek  Company 85 

Swann,  Thos.,  Letter  to  Simms   260 

Templeman,  John,  Director  of  Patowmaek  Company 88 

Thompson,  Jonah,  Director  of  Patowmaek  Company 118 

To  negotiate  with  Shenandoah  Company 120 

Thompson,  Josiah,  Special  Lottery  agent   110 

Superintendent  of  work  on  river  117 

Thompson,  Tobias,  In  charge  of  works  110 

Vandalia  Company,  Failure  of 22 

Virginia,  Military  warrants 22 

Vowell,  John  C,  Director  of  Patowmaek  Company   118 

Washington,  Augustine  and  Lawrence,  Members  of  Ohio  Company  .  .  9 

Washington,  George,  At  Belvoir 13 

Guest  of  Cresap— Appointed  Surveyor— Military  appointment   .  14 

Envoy  to  treat  with  French  commandant   15 

Agent  of  Virginia  soldiers — Inspects  lands  on  the  Ohio 23 

Procures  act  for  opening  Potomac  navigation   23 

Opinion  of  value  of  western  trade   33 

Conferences  at  Annapolis 35 

Conference  at  Mount  Vernon   37 

Policy  of  Maryland  and  Viriginia 39 

Sets  out  on  western  journey  of  inspection  42 

Meets  Eumsey  at  Bath— Sees  model  of  boat 43 

At  Richmond  with  Lafayette   45 

Virginia  votes  him  shares  of  Potomac  and  James  River  stock  .  .  56 

Elected  president  of  the  PatowTuack  Company 58 

At  Frederick 63 

Enthusiasm— Opinion    on    advisability    of    opening    Mississippi 

River    66 

Attends  Convention  at  Philadelphia   80 


Index.  277 

Makes  loan  to  Patowmaek  Company 97 

At  general  meeting  of  Patowmaek  Company   98 

Signs  subscription  for  relief — Votes  by  proxy   99 

Arsenal  for  Harj)ers  Ferry  secured  by 104 

Letters  from, 

to  Bouquet,  16;  to  Thos.  Johnson,  18,  44;  to  Dr.  Boucher, 
23;  to  Lafayette,  34,  36,  66;  to  Chastellux,  34;  to  Maj. 
Gen.  Knox,  36;  to  Thos.  Jefferson,  38;  to  Jas.  Madison, 
49;  to  E.  H.  Lee,  52,  67;  to  Thos.  Johnson  and  Thos.  Sim. 
Lee,  60;  to  Humphreys,  66;  to  Edmund  Randolph,  67,  68; 
to  Gilpin  and  Fitzgerald,  77;  to  Tobias  Lear,  88,  89,  90. 

See  also  Appendix  "  A "   154 

Western  Settlements,  Encouraged  by  Virginia 11,  12 

Williams,  Elie,  President  of  the  Patowmaek  Company 117 

Wood,  James,  In  West  Augusta  District  239 

Commissioner  of  Virginia   240 

Young,  Notley,  Director  of  the  Patowmaek  Co 84 


A  New  and  Valuable  Contribution  to 
American   History 


Early  Chapters  in  the  Development  of  the 
Potomac  Route  to  the  West. 

In  Three  Parts. 

I.  The  Ohio  Company  and  Other  Adventures;  1748  to  1774.  Gleaned 
from  Kare  Contemporary  Letters  and  Literature. 

II.  The  Patowmack  Company;  1784  to  1828.  From  its  own  unpub- 
lished Records  and  Documents. 

This  the  first  incorporated  enterprise  to  improve  an  inland  waterway 
was  organized  by  General  George  Washington  and  Governor  Thomas  Johnson 
of  Maryland.  The  story  of  the  heroic  struggle  of  half  a  century  to  secure 
the  western  trade  by  a  safe  and  easy  navigation  of  the  Potomac  river  has  not 
before  been  fully  told. 

III.  A  sketch  of  the  life  of  Col.  Charles  Simms,  Gentleman;  a  soldier 
in  Lord  Dunmore's  War,  an  officer  of  the  line  in  the  Revolutionary  Army,  the 
Mayor  of  Alexandria  during  the  British  Occupation  in  1814,  a  successful  man 
of  affairs  of  the  18th  century. 

With  portrait  and  many  selections  from  a  varied  and  extensive  corre- 
spondence with  eminent  men  of  the  period,  including  hitherto  unpublished 
papers  and  letters  of  Washington,  Johnson,  Paca,  Marshall,  Henry  Lee 
Randolph,  Harvie,  John  Mason,  Rumsey,  Revolutionary  love  letters,  Simms'i 
account  of  the  British  invasion,  etc. 


By  MRS.  CORK  A  BACON-FOSTER 
Historian,  Office  of  Indian  Affairs. 

Member  of  the  Columbia  Historical  Society  of  Washington,  D.  C, 
National  Historian  of  the  Society  of  Daughters  of  Founders  and 
Patriots  of  America,  Member  of  the  National  Committee,  D.A.R. 
for  Preservation  of  Historic  Spots,  etc. 


250  pages.  8vo.  Cloth.  Illustrated  with  many  reproductions  of  rare  por- 
traits, prints,  autographs,  views  of  the  river,  first  American  canals,  locks,  etc. 
Very  limited  edition.     Sold  only  by  subscription.     Price,  $2.00. 


Subscriptions,  payable  ou  delivery,  may  be  sent  to 

Mrs.  Corra   Bacon-Foster, 
917  18th  Street  Washington,  D.C. 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

305  De  Neve  Drive  -  Parking  Lot  17  •  Box  951388 

LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90095-1388 

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